Cavs Host Raptors in First-Round Series

After securing the No. 4 seed and home-court advantage in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs, the Cleveland Cavaliers will host the No. 5 seed Toronto Raptors in a best-of-seven series.

Cleveland is built around four core players: James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen. Since Harden arrived in a February trade, however, the group has logged just 92 minutes on the court together.

Toronto won all three regular-season meetings with Cleveland, though those games came in the season’s first month and featured Cavaliers lineups that looked far different.

Game 1 between the Cavaliers and Raptors tips off at 1 p.m. Saturday and will air on Prime Video. Cleveland enters as an 8.5-point favorite. The full NBA postseason bracket is available here.

ODOT: Late Mergers Are in the Right

Though many drivers find it frustrating, the Ohio Department of Transportation said motorists who wait until the last moment to move from a closing lane are actually merging correctly.

In a 2024 Facebook post, ODOT encouraged motorists to use the “zipper merge” just before the lane ends, saying it can reduce congestion by 40%.

The post drew hundreds of comments, with many users arguing drivers are too “inconsiderate” for zipper merges to work smoothly.

ODOT’s message comes as the department plans to spend a record $3.4 billion on nearly 1,000 road construction projects statewide in 2026.

Ohio Destinations Earn Honors in Midwest Awards

Several Ohio towns and businesses earned recognition in Midwest Living’s Best of the Midwest Awards 2026, including The Junto in Franklinton, which was named the region’s Hotel of the Year.

The Fidelity Hotel in Cleveland, Hotel Celare in Cincinnati, and the Ritz-Carlton in Cleveland were also recognized in two other hotel categories, while The Cliffs at Hocking Hills was named one of the Midwest’s most unique getaways.

Cincinnati was named one of nine Midwestern cities of the year, while Granville ranked among the 12 top small towns. Put-in-Bay was also recognized in the 10 Midwest Lake Escapes category.

Food and drink honorees included Rhonemus Cellars, a winery and restaurant in Lancaster, and A Tavola, a pizza shop in Madeira. All award categories can be found here.

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➤ Statewide: Officials launched a school attendance dashboard to track chronic absences, defined as missing at least 10% of the school year, as more than 25% of Ohio students were chronically absent last year. (More)

➤ Also statewide: Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose returned to the Buckeye State after being activated for duty with the Ohio National Guard in March and deployed overseas. (More)

➤ Columbus: The Ohio State University said it reached settlements with 13 more victims of sexual abuse by former university physician Richard Strauss. (More)

➤ Logan County: Winds up to 80 mph damaged the Benjamin Logan Local Schools campus, tearing roofs, toppling light poles, and overturning a school bus. (More)

➤ Pioneer: Fifteen of the Pioneer Fire Department’s 16 members resigned on Wednesday, days after Mayor Edward Kidston accused them of bluffing in a dispute over a demoted assistant fire chief. (More)

➤ OSU coach Ryan Day said Saturday’s spring game will feature a full-contact intersquad scrimmage after recent games featured a more limited format. (More)

➤ A Cedarville women’s basketball player is suing a doctor at Kettering Health’s Hand and Orthopedic Center in Washington Township, alleging he operated on the wrong knee. (More)

➤ The Columbus Blue Jackets signed coach Rick Bowness to a contract extension through next season after Bowness led the team to a 21-11-5 record in 37 games since joining in January. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: NHL | MLB | NCAAB | NCAASB | Soccer | Golf

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➤ Allbirds, a shoe company co-created by a University of Cincinnati graduate, announced a shocking pivot into the artificial intelligence industry under the name NewBird AI. (More)

➤ A bipartisan group of Ohio lawmakers introduced a bill requiring “addictive” social media platforms to display warning labels after a ruling found Meta and Google liable for harming children. (More)

➤ Hundreds of Ohio business owners are rushing to remove merchandise from Painted Tree boutiques after the company announced an immediate shutdown. (More)

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➤ Lyme disease cases in Ohio surged from 40 in 2010 to more than 2,800 last year as warmer temperatures, rising humidity, and expanding forests have created ideal conditions for ticks. (More)

➤ Ohio’s spring turkey season opens this weekend, with youth hunting in the south zone starting on Saturday and additional hunting periods scheduled statewide through May. (See Dates)

➤ Kipper the wallaby, who escaped and hopped through Dayton streets last week, died unexpectedly on Tuesday. (More)

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Who will win the Cavaliers-Raptors first-round playoff series?

1. Cavaliers
   
2. Raptors
   

Yesterday’s Results:

Have you ever traded on a prediction market such as Kalshi or Polymarket?

1. No: 68%
2. Yes: 32%

Ravenna native Bill Bower flew in which famous World War II mission?

Show me the answer