CLEVELAND — In addition to holding the promise of returning to a pre-pandemic normal, the new year is set to usher in changes in Northeast Ohio that will affect our lives in big and small ways.
Here are some of the changes that our headed our way.
2021 will test the leadership of the city as voters potentially replace Mayor Frank Jackson after 16 years in office. His leadership already drawing criticism -- and potential challengers.
A new Census count will force the size of Cleveland city council and others to shrink, limiting the accessibility of our government.
Change of leadership is also coming to the Greater Cleveland Partnership, the region’s most influence business group, known for pulling levers on renovation projects involving stadiums center and Public Square.
The group also behind efforts to woo political conventions and companies like Amazon.
Hourly workers across the state will see their paychecks grow 10 cents an hour as minimum-wage changes kick in.
Ohio's grace period to renew an expired driver's license or registration ends July 1st.
Plastic bags won’t disappear from grocery stores in Cuyahoga County and other communities that passed legislation to ban them. A state law signed last year blocks such plans through September.
Ohio lawmakers begin work on its next two-year operating budget, due this summer. The first budget to confront the effects of the pandemic economy and expected to reduce funding for services across the board.
But the biggest changes we will all experience are still tied to the pandemic and the restrictions meant to control the spread of the virus. These are not expected to be lifted anytime soon, though officials are counting on improved vaccine distribution to give everyone a defense against Covid-19 – and hope that 2021 will be a better year.