The iOpener: Sheriff: I Was Shut Out of Decisions at Jail; Bauer Traded

Good morning, iOpeners. It's Wednesday, July 31, 2019.  The dog days of August are ahead.

Cuyahoga County Sheriff Clifford Pinkney told county council members he had little say in some of the biggest decisions at the county’s troubled jail. Pinkney, testifying in response to an unprecedented subpoena by the council, said he was not consulted on personnel decisions or on the recent move to consolidate jail operations.  Pinkney retires at the end of the week.

The former head of the board of the RTA, George Dixon III, is facing a felony theft of office charge for failing to pay his health insurance premiums. Cuyahoga County prosecutor Michael O’Malley’s office charged Dixon after he waived his right to have the case presented to a grand jury for an indictment. He’s expected to plead guilty following his arraignment. Dixon has already agreed to pay $132,000 in restitution. The charges carry a possible sentence of nine to 36 months in jail, a fine up to $10,000 or both.

Gov. Mike DeWine says he supports an effort to repeal a recent rule change that drops the requirement for a front license plate, even though he signed that new requirement into law in April. Two fellow Republicans in the state Senate have introduced a bill to restore the front plate requirement, following the complaints from law enforcement officials who say a front license plate is a critical crime-fighting tool. DeWine, a former state Attorney General, said, “Throughout my career, I have favored two license plates.”

Farmers in Ohio can now grow hemp. Gov. DeWine signed a bill that decriminalizes hemp and hemp products like CBD oil. The wildly-popular oil can be found in foods, supplements, creams, even pet foods. The new law will allow that oil to be sold outside of the state’s medical marijuana dispensaries. New rules need to be established before farmers can start planting hemp. 

The Cleveland Indians have agreed to trade enigmatic pitcher Trevor Bauer to Cincinnati as part of a three-team deal that includes San Diego, a person familiar with the negotiations tells The Associated Press. Cleveland would get slugger Yasiel Puig and left-hander Scott Moss from Cincinnati and would receive outfielder Franmil Reyes, lefty Logan Allen and infielder Victor Nova from the Padres. San Diego would get minor league outfielder Taylor Trammell from the Reds.  Puig was part of a brawl that took place Tuesday in the Reds’ 11-4 loss to the Pirates.    

The Houston Astros’ Justin Verlander shut down the Indians, 2-0. The All-Star struck out 13 to reach double digits for his third straight start and sixth time this season. He allowed two hits in seven innings.

Weather:  Swimmers in Lake Erie are being warned of high swimming risks from waves and dangerous currents today. The National Weather Service has issued a beach hazards statement until 4 p.m. There is a slight chance of thunderstorms today with a high of 80 degrees.