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Green native Kelsie Ahbe set to compete for Canada in pole vault at Rio Olympics

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Parents dread the thought of a 3 a.m. phone call about their child.

But last Monday in the wee hours, Brad Ahbe called his wife, Suzie, from Edmonton, Alberta, to let her know their daughter, Kelsie, a 2009 Green High graduate, had officially made the Canadian Olympic track and field team.

“We were flippin’ out,” Suzie said. “It’s been a whirlwind, to say the least.”

The anxiety-creating question had been: Would Team Canada take two or three pole vaulters to Rio de Janeiro, where the Summer Olympic Games begin Aug. 5?

Hours earlier, at Canada’s Olympic qualifying meet, Brad, a Canada native and a dual citizen of the United States and Canada, had watched his daughter clear 4.35 meters (14-3¼) to tie for second place. All athletes competed through miserable weather, and when the final tally was complete, Kelsie slipped to third on the tiebreaker, landing on the bubble.

A major chip in Kelsie’s corner was that in 2015 she had achieved the Olympic qualifying standard of 4.50 meters (14-9¼).

Waiting into the early morning for a confirmation email from Team Canada, Brad eventually fell asleep, but Kelsie kept checking.

“I didn’t sleep at all that night,” she said.

Finally, the good-news email landed.

“There was always a chance they were going to take her, and a chance they weren’t going to take her,” Brad said. “Within 30 seconds we phoned ­Suzie.”

For Kelsie Ahbe, who began pole vaulting as a sophomore at Green High School, it was a “blessing” that she was even able to compete at Edmonton. A stress fracture in her foot and a hamstring tear had severely limited her training in the runup to Canadian Nationals.

That’s why there was so much joy among her mentors, former coaches and teammates, friends and family, and a support network stretching from Summit County to Bloomington, Ind., to Knoxville, Tenn., and back to ­Canada.

Her parents are thankful for the “close-knit” circle of people who have supported their daughter, including current coach Tim Mack.

Months before the big meet, despite the injuries, Mack assured Ahbe. “There’s always a way,” she said he told her.

Ahbe, along with other Olympic hopefuls, has been training in Tennessee with Mack, a 2004 U.S. Olympic gold medalist in the pole vault. Stretched between venues and coaching athletes in the U.S. and Canada, Mack arrived in Edmonton late Saturday for Sunday’s pole vault competition.

“I was ready to do it without him being there, but it did prove important having him there,” Ahbe said.

Athleticism, faith, and perseverance always have been hallmarks of Ahbe’s remarkable career.

A two-time All-American and Big Ten champion at Indiana University, Ahbe had in 2011 become the second 14-foot vaulter in IU history, but then fell short of her goals in 2012.

“I’m not special for working through adversity,” she said. “It’s not an easy road. Through pole vault, I’m challenged physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.”

She redshirted the indoor and outdoor seasons of 2012-13. The decision enabled her to step back from competition and refocus, while also completing her degree in public health.

At the 2014 NCAA Outdoor Championships, Ahbe cleared a school record of 4.40 meters (14-5¼), captured second place, and earned her second All-America ­certificate.

Ahbe won two OHSAA state titles in pole vault and was a four-year soccer standout at Green. She is believed to be Green’s second Olympic track and field athlete, following Mark Croghan, a three-time Olympian and five-time U.S. champion in steeplechase.

But it was her ability in gymnastics that prompted then high school teammate and state champion vaulter Carrie Kayes to recommend she give pole vault a try.

Dan Gourley, Eric Allan and Maedene Pfouts, Ahbe’s track coaches at Green, are beaming with pride and sharing stories of her competitive tenacity and sportsmanship.

“I am thrilled for her,” Allan, who coached Bulldog pole vaulters for eight years, said. “She knows how to deal with pressure. She also was screaming and cheering for everybody else on the track.”

Green’s pole vault tradition includes five state championships won by Kayes (2005), Ahbe (2007, ’08), and Morgan Estes (2012, ’13), and dates to 1986 when Croghan and champion pole vaulter Brian Kelly led the Bulldogs to a state title.

Her mother said Ahbe celebrated making the Olympic team for “about 10 minutes.”

“My thoughts went to, ‘What do I have to do in the next four weeks to get ready?’ ” she said. “I’m going for a purpose. I want to be competitive. Who knows what could happen?”


Republican National Convention: What it is, what to expect

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Of the 50,000 people anticipated in Cleveland for the Republican National Convention this week, only 2,472 are voting delegates.

Their job is to decide whether they want billionaire businessman Donald Trump as the party’s candidate for president, and then they will revel in his selection at the closing.

That’s the main business, but they’ll also party with big donors, lobbyists and celebrities, hear motivational speeches, visit attractions such as the Pro Football Hall of Fame, First Ladies National Historic Site and Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens, and likely eat well.

About 15,000 journalists and media technicians will attend the event, including more than 100 from Ohio news organizations. Another 8,000 volunteers will do such things as greet visiting delegations at hotels in Fairlawn, Bath and Copley townships, Cuyahoga Falls, Twinsburg and the Cleveland area.

Area accommodations

Six Summit County hotels are hosting RNC delegates from various places:

• Hilton Akron/Fairlawn: Missouri, Virgin Islands, Guam, Northern Marianas Islands

• Doubletree by Hilton Akron/Fairlawn: Oregon

• Sheraton Suites Akron/Cuyahoga Falls: Michigan

• Hilton Garden Inn Akron: Puerto Rico

• Holiday Inn Akron-West: Utah

• Hilton Garden Inn Twinsburg: Maine

The Democrats will hold their convention the following week in Philadelphia to consider former U.S. senator, secretary of state and first lady Hillary Clinton.

Can you visit?

Conventions are not open to the public. Several blocks around Quicken Loans Arena and Progressive Field are highly secured and require special credentials for entry.

Outside the steel fence and concrete barriers will be thousands of other people who have come to express a political position. They will camp, speak and march.

Demonstrators will be in event zones where there are other security rules: No boards, pipes, tennis balls, backpacks and more. The convention website lists all prohibited items.

However, a person who has a concealed carry permit can carry a loaded weapon.

How it works

Each state has its own rules for its delegates.

Trump came in second in Ohio, which is a winner-take-all state.

The winner, Ohio Gov. John Kasich, then will receive the state’s 66 votes in the first round of balloting.

Some states are like Ohio, some are proportional, and others allow delegates the freedom to vote as they wish.

After the first ballot, pledged delegates will be allowed to switch. To win the nomination, a candidate must have 1,237 votes.

Daily events

The convention committee, as of Saturday afternoon, had not released a daily schedule of speakers and events.

That information will be published as it becomes available.

What is missing is an appearance by Kasich, who has refused to endorse Trump and therefore will not attend, nor is he invited. Generally, the host state provides a welcome to the convention.

Kasich will instead speak to the annual convention of the NAACP this weekend in Cincinnati.

Here is what is known:

Sunday

Festivities will begin with hotel check-ins and receptions in Northeast Ohio.

Thousands of police and military are in town, too.

Streets and expressways around Cleveland’s Quicken Loans Arena, Progressive Field, Public Square and FirstMerit Convention Center are closed or restricted. Check the Ohio Department of Transportation website for updates.

Welcome ceremonies: Delegates will gather at Voinovich Park, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Great Lakes Science Center for a late-afternoon reception. At 4:30, a group calling itself Shut Down Trump will meet at East 32nd Street and Euclid on the east side and walk toward the delegate reception.

About 700 people with the Ohio delegation will have their own welcome party with the southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd.

Monday

The Ohio delegation will have breakfast with Ohio Treasurer Josh Mandel and guest U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark.

The session will begin at 1 p.m.

Akron native Karen Vaughn, mother of a Navy SEAL who died in Afghanistan, and an outspoken critic of President Barack Obama, will be a speaker.

Platform and rules committees will issue reports.

Tuesday

The Ohio delegation will have breakfast with U.S. Rep. Bill Johnson, representing southeast Ohio, and political strategist Frank Luntz.

U.S. Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio will hold a reception for Ohio news media.

The session will begin at 5:30 p.m.

Wednesday

The Ohio delegation will have breakfast with U.S. Rep. Pat Tiberi, representing the Columbus area, and U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan.

A Big Tent Brunch at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame will include Caitlyn Jenner for a discussion of LGBT rights and the Republican Party.

The Westboro Baptist Church, a controversial anti-gay organization, intends to demonstrate all day in Perk Plaza.

The session begins at 7 p.m.

Thursday

The Ohio delegation will have breakfast with Ohio Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor of Green, U.S. Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio and Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi.

The session will begin at 7:30 p.m.

Trump is expected to deliver his acceptance speech before the closing ceremony.

At RNC, barriers are up, military and police assemble

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There are too many rusty, interlocking panels in Cleveland to count.

They split the length of East Ninth Street from Progressive Field to Willard Park.

“Media row,” as officials call the thoroughfare, will be teeming with 350 private coaches shuttling tens of thousands of journalists and Republicans to and from secure hotels and party proceedings.

The 8-foot barricades also cage Willard Park, resembling a fighting ring for the protesters with permits.

Metal detectors greet patrons at nearby restaurants.

Throughout the city, newly hung cameras look down on the streets.

Soon, there will be police on bicycles, motorcycles and horses.

The National Guard is in town.

This is the armed fortress of Cleveland, Ohio, where the nation’s top security people have planned for more than a year how to maintain safety for yet one more quadrennial exercise in democracy: The political convention.

It is designated as a National Special Security Event, equivalent to a presidential inauguration, state of the union address, Super Bowl game or even some NASCAR events, where the number of people and dignitaries create unique circumstances.

As a result, the Secret Service and other federal agencies take over.

But not since 1968, when anti-war demonstrators, civil rights advocates and those concerned for the impoverished clashed with police in Chicago, has there been so much concern. This year, terrorism, race and economic distress emerge in similar fashion.

Adding to the tension: Ohio allows those with conceal carry permits to carry a loaded gun, and some groups said they intend to exercise that right.

John Penley had second thoughts about stepping off a bus and onto the sidewalk in Cleveland this week.

The North Carolina man, no fan of Donald Trump and no stranger to a jail cell, has been arrested at other conventions and protests, most recently in 2012 while agitating Democrats.

But the Grand Old Party gathering this week is shaping up to be something much scarier, he said.

“I’m really afraid of the Bikers for Trump group. They’ve said they’re coming in here to back up the police,” said Penley. “They’ve given themselves the role of vigilante police backers.”

The patriotic motorcyclists will join Second Amendment advocates who promise to protect Trump supporters, defend police if necessary and counter liberal protesters, among them Penley, a veteran who opposes war.

Penley asked the city to permit separate space for Trump’s fans and foes to camp and demonstrate. The city denied Penley’s request and, less than a week before the RNC, approved overnight-only camping for all at Kirtland Park.

Penley advised fellow campers to avoid the park and instead camp outside Edgewater Park on the first night. He’ll move if police order him away. But he said he feels safer on a sidewalk than in a park with the other side.

“It’s gone from scary to insanity here,” Penley said. “If I’d have known about all of this, I wouldn’t have planned to come. I’m being honest.”

Here we go

Already, the city is in convention mode.

The streets around Quicken Loans Arena and Progressive Field are impassable by car and, without credentials, by foot.

Between the sporting venues is the heart of the high-security zone, where thousands of cases of beer and wine have been stuffed into makeshift bars with weathered wood paneling so natural-looking as to suggest they’ve been there for years.

That’s “Freedom Plaza,” which also is home to a white steel building housing mobile generators and air conditioners that pump cool air and electricity into the arena. Doors to the temporary facility are locked by electronic keypads.

Concern for safety is widespread.

One of two anti-RNC groups canceled its parade Sunday afternoon out of fear. Motorcyclists for Trump are concerned, and a New Black Panthers group said it plans to arrive with guns, according to the Washington Post.

As many as 10,000 plastic handcuffs have been purchased. Tags have been made to label people by the names of arresting officers.

Public officials have said that jail cells have been emptied and courts will be open until 1 a.m. in the event of mass arrests and the need for expedited judicial action.

The Post also reported that emergency room doctors were not allowed to take vacation and hospitals have stocked up on medicines and supplies.

That’s just in downtown Cleveland.

Security extends as far away as Fairlawn, Cuyahoga Falls and Twinsburg, where conventioneers from Michigan, Maine and U.S. territories are expected to stay, and Canton, where they will visit the Pro Football Hall of Fame and First Ladies National Historic Site.

Staying safe

The Cleveland2016 Host Committee web site www.2016cle.com has a “Stay Informed” page under “Plan your trip.”

On the page is the CodeRED program that allows anyone to sign up for emergency safety alerts.

The page also provides information on how to report suspicious activity.

Police B&B

Dormitory food will be on the menu for the thousands of police and military people on security detail. They’ll be housed in dormitories of university campuses as far away as the University of Akron, where there will be about 630.

Many Akron and Summit County officers and deputies will join Ohio National Guardsmen at Case Western University, where about 1,700 security people will stay.

Cleveland State University, just 10 blocks from the convention, also expects to house 500 officers.

Security firms benefit

“That’s all great for our industry,” said Peter J. Miragliotta, CEO of Cleveland-based Tenable Protective Services, Ohio’s largest private security firm.

The 30-year-old company hired 150 employees, a 50 percent staff increase, in preparation for the RNC. Each worker received up to 16 hours training, depending on previous experience. Additional staff were pulled from the company’s Akron office to cover overnight security.

Part tour guide and part security detail, Miragliotta won’t call them guards throughout the convention. They’re safety ambassadors, he said.

“It has nothing to do with whether you are Republican or Democrat,” Miragliotta said, “We took it personally that we are protecting the city.”

Tenable workers could be seen patrolling satellite trucks outside the Huntington Convention Center last week as national media streamed news live to television and radio audiences.

In the next four days, his crew, which includes off-duty officers, will guard generators, warehouses, vans, cameras and other non-public assets, as well as the most famous politicians, media personalities and business people who will be mingling with delegates at private parties.

Aircraft restrictions

Air space above Cleveland will be highly restricted beginning Sunday afternoon, much like it is all the time for Washington, D.C.

No drones will be allowed in the air above Cuyahoga County.

Burke Lakefront Airport will close Sunday to routine traffic. After 6 p.m., no private planes will be permitted to land without first having a security sweep either at the point of origin or at Akron-Canton or Youngstown airports. Many are expected to park at Akron-Canton.

Security equipment

Congress approved $50 million for each of the conventions to provide security. According to a fact book assembled by the Ohio Chapter of the National Lawyers Guild (a human rights advocacy group), the $50 million was allocated this way for Cleveland:

$30 million alone for security personnel

2,000 sets of riot gear

2,000 retractable steel batons

Nearly four miles of steel barriers

2,400 hydration packs (backpacks for carrying water)

24 ballistic outfits of bulletproof helmets, armor and face protection (combat gear)

15 motorcycles

310 bikes and bicycle equipment

10,000 plastic handcuffs

Three horse trailers

16 aiming lasers and two night-vision scopes

Other precautions

Many www.2016cle.com/press-releases/security-and-traffic-restrictions">parking decks will be closed to the public, and on-street parking will be prohibited on many streets.

www.2016cle.com/press-releases/security-and-traffic-restrictions">Lake Erie and Cuyahoga River boating from east of Burke Lakefront Airport to west of Cuyahoga River is restricted. The most secure time will be Sunday evening near the museums.

Beacon Journal reporters Doug Livingston and Stephanie Warsmith will cover the convention. Questions? They can be emailed at dlivingston@thebeaconjournal and swarsmith@thebeaconjournal.com

Soap Box Derby a triumph for most winners, but one becomes third to be disqualified in race history

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As the winners of the 79th FirstEnergy All-American Soap Box Derby triumphed in their successful day of racing in Akron after beating out the rain, one derby champ hit a roadblock.

Jacob Martin, 14, of Arlington, Mass., who won the local masters division, was disqualified after the derby’s racing commission determined his car’s front axle mounting plate was drilled, which violated a rule of the Masters Car Build Plans.

Each winner in that division moved up a spot, making Kathryn Lindsey, 16, of Winter Park, Fla., the local masters champion. This marks only the third champion disqualification in the derby’s history.

Despite that, the rest of the winners had much to celebrate.

Of all the fun of the week, Joey Kratochvil, 13, who won the local stock race, enjoyed seeing his family the most.

Many of his relatives came to Akron from Culpeper, Va., including Kratochvil’s mom, aunts, cousins and grandparents, who were in tears when he placed in the top three.

“It feels great, especially now that he won,” said Joe Kratochvil, Joey’s grandfather, who has been a derby volunteer in the Culpeper region for 14 years.

After Joey won, he ran up and hugged each of his family members in a teary embrace.

“It was really good,” Joey said about winning.

One family member couldn’t be there to see Joey win, but he was in the family’s hearts. Joey received a heart locket that day that held the ashes of his father, who died six years ago. He wore it as he zoomed into first place.

“We told him [his dad] was here with him,” said Arline Rupard, Joey’s mother.

Expansion

While the 456 racers who participated this year in the derby hovers around the same number as last year, overall, there were more racers this year than last.

Joe Mazur, the president and CEO of the All-American Soap Box Derby, attributes that to the education program the derby has been implementing in STEM schools since 2011.

Kids in the schools team to build cars and learn more about racing, which ultimately ends up sparking their interest. Mazur plans to continue that expansion with a brand-new curriculum the derby will begin implementing in STEM schools next fall. On top of building cars, kids will learn about the physics of racing.

“It’s not any different than NASCAR,” Mazur said, noting that the kids set up each car differently for each particular track they race on.

Mayor’s Cup Race

The kids weren’t the only ones who got to feel the thrill of the hill Saturday.

Several community officials and organization leaders raced in the third annual Mayor’s Cup Race, competing for a trophy and bragging rights.

Mazur said the race began as a way to engage community officials and earn their support in continuing the Soap Box Derby tradition.

“It’s a way for us to get them here to get a feel for what we talk about,” Mazur said. “I’ve seen so many eyes open up about what we do.”

New scholarship

Kelly Speeg of California was one of 19 to compete in the Mayor’s Cup Race. It was her first time in Akron without her husband since his death.

Speeg began volunteering with her husband, Bill, back in 1999 when her daughter started racing.

“We just fell in love with the derby,” she said.

Bill Speeg became the derby’s regional director in California until he died of a heart attack in 2014 at just 46 years old.

In honor of her husband, Kelly Speeg donated every penny of this year’s $36,000 scholarship fund, which has been permanently named the Bill Speeg Memorial Scholarship.

Mazur said Speeg’s donation was the largest individual contribution ever made to the Soap Box Derby.

The winner in each division will receive a $3,000 scholarship, while those in second place receive $2,000 and those in third, $1,000.

“The love and support I have here has been tremendous,” said a teary-eyed Speeg, donning a button with her husband’s face on it. “They’re a wonderful group. It’s an extension of our family.”

Despite the circumstances, Speeg was all smiles as she crossed the finish line and came out champion of the Mayor’s Cup Race, flashing a thumbs-up the announcers could see from the top of the bridge.

Theresa Cottom can be reached at 330-996-3216 or tcottom@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow her on Twitter @Theresa_Cottom.

African-American festival shares culture, gets youths involved

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In the middle of Lock 3, a group of drummers banged out a beat on traditional African drums while three little girls played and danced along. The final day of the 36th annual African-American Cultural Festival was just starting up, and the girls were some of the first to arrive on Sunday.

“It seemed like a really awesome cultural event,” said Bridgett Mayeux as her two girls, Satya, 6, and Phalen, 4, raced from the drums to the youth tent to make their own musical instruments, African shakers, out of foam cups filled with seeds.

Mayeux, from Bath, heard about the festival from Annette Long, one of several jewelry vendors at the event. Long’s 6-year-old niece Italy Star played drums along with the girls.

“I feel like everyone in the whole community should be here today,” Mayeux said. “I’m really inspired by all the work that goes into the event.”

In its 36th year, the African-American festival’s vendors ranged from handmade jewelry to traditional African cuisine.

In addition to vendors, the event featured a health tent with free wellness and HIV testing, a chess tournament and free haircuts from Beyond Expectations Barber College.

Trumpets blared on Lock 3’s main stage as more people arrived into the afternoon, passing fashion vendors and admiring their vibrant colors and tribal prints.

The festival expanded this year to fill the entire weekend with cultural activities and music, with a headlining performance from the S.O.S. Band, whose hits include Take Your Time (Do It Right) and Just Be Good To Me. New this year was a youth talent show with a $500 grand prize.

“We wanted to try to get a youth contingent to the event,” said Debra Calhoun, one of the festival’s coordinators and an adjunct professor of Pan-African Studies at Kent State University. “They’re going to be the ones to carry this event.”

Calhoun said events like this, especially in light of recent shootings, are important to help establish cultural sensitivity and understanding among the community and young people.

The festival had a special youth tent with activities and a free school supply and book giveaway.

This year’s theme for kids was “dance,” so they had the chance to make African instruments and collars before getting their faces painted, all to prep them for grooving to the music.

“Right now, we need unity among the masses of people,” said Shcarra Benn, the festival’s youth coordinator. “The community needs to know our history. Without that knowledge, there’s no tradition to be passed on.”

Christiana White Blue, 17, walked with her friend Yona White, 16, both from Akron, after having their faces painted with lines of white dots above their eyebrows and down their noses.

“I like the vibes,” White said. “It’s important to get in touch with your cultural roots and see where you came from.”

Theresa Cottom can be reached at 330-996-3216 or tcottom@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow her on Twitter @Theresa_Cottom.

Ohio Gov. John Kasich urges working together at NAACP convention

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CINCINNATI: Ohio Gov. John Kasich condemned the slayings of police officers Sunday while urging that people work together for healing in a speech sprinkled with biblical references at the NAACP national convention.

Three officers were killed earlier Sunday in Baton Rouge, La., in the latest violence involving police across the country, and the Republican said he learned just before taking the stage Sunday evening of the shooting of a police officer in Milwaukee. That officer was seriously wounded, police said.

“And I know everyone in this ... auditorium condemns these terrible murders,” Kasich said, as his audience burst into applause. “The Lord wants us to heal. The Lord wants us to work together. The Lord doesn’t want violence.”

In his address Sunday evening, Kasich described his Ohio initiative for a statewide collaborative effort on police-community relations. The bipartisan special board, which grew from a series of police shootings of blacks in the state, has been working on statewide policy for use of deadly force, improving recruiting of police to reflect more community diversity, developing data collection, and improving police-community understanding from both sides.

Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton will speak to the convention Monday morning. GOP presumptive nominee Donald Trump turned down the NAACP’s invitation, with the Republican National Convention starting Monday in Cleveland.

Kasich, who opposed Trump for the GOP nomination, has declined to endorse Trump and won’t speak at his party’s convention in his home state. Kasich has disagreed with Trump’s attacking style and presented himself as a more unifying, positive candidate.

“See, I think we all want the same thing,” Kasich said. “We all want our children to do well. We all want peace and tranquility in our neighborhoods.”

At a convention that warmed up for its evening session with rousing gospel music, Kasich quoted from the Bible: “Love God; love your neighbor, as you love yourself. ... Think about what that means in the way we approach others; even those that we may not agree with. Or some that we significantly disagree with.”

The audience applauded several times during his speech and at the close. Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney got booed at the 2012 NAACP convention when he told attendees he’d be better for black families than President Barack Obama had been.

Hundreds of RNC delegates to rest up in Summit County

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A navy blue Fairlawn police SUV stood guard this weekend outside the entrance of the Hilton hotel.

A matching Fairlawn police car was parked a few yards away parallel to Market Street, where shoppers streamed in and out of Summit Mall across the street, most unaware that a piece of the Republican National Convention was so close.

Delegates from Missouri, the Virgin Islands, Guam and Northern Marianas Islands have settled into the Hilton Akron/Fairlawn. And delegates from Oregon are spending the week at the Hilton’s sister property next door, the DoubleTree.

In all, six Summit County hotels are hosting RNC delegations from five states and four territories.

Shuttle buses will carry the delegates back and forth to Cleveland for the RNC events. But expect to run into hundreds of delegates, their friends and family, as they spend their downtime in Akron, too.

Sara Walsh, a Missouri delegate, said she and her husband, Steve Walsh, spokesman for U.S. Rep. Vicky Hartzler, have already mapped out a travel plan.

“I’ve been through Cleveland, but I’m really fascinated more with Akron,” Sara Walsh said. “When Steven and I travel, we love taking in the local culture and flavor.”

What’s on the Walshes’ must-do list?

• Touring the gardens at Stan Hywet Hall.

• Eating at Luigi’s, where they’ve heard about the lines of hungry people snaking out the door.

• And, against the odds, hoping to hitch a ride on a Goodyear blimp.

Sara Walsh was born in Torrance, Calif., near the Goodyear Airship Operations Base and said she’s always been fascinated by the giant airships floating overhead.

“I always wondered who was up there, what would it be like to fly inside,” said Walsh, who works for the Missouri Pharmacy Association.

She is among 52 Missouri RNC delegates. The state is also sending 49 alternate delegates to serve as seat fillers at the convention.

Each of the 101 Missouri representatives heading to Akron may also bring a guest, so Missouri alone could bring more than 200 people to Greater Akron.

Not everyone is happy about staying in Summit County, however, including Missouri Republican Party Chairman John Hancock.

“Back in the old days, when we were a battleground state, we had great hotels,” Hancock told a St. Louis Post-Dispatch reporter last week when asked about the state delegation’s digs at the Hilton Akron/Fairlawn, which is about a 35-minute drive from the RNC in regular traffic, probably at least twice that during the RNC.

Travel time aside, Hancock must not know the history of the Hilton Akron/Fairlawn or its owner, Rennick Andreoli, president of RDA Management Co. and owner of the oldest Hilton franchise in the world.

The wall behind Andreoli’s desk at the Hilton is covered with photos of Andreoli with political power players, including Jack Kemp, Dick Cheney and former U.S. Presidents George H. W. Bush and Gerald Ford.

There’s also a picture of President Barack Obama, who spent the night at this Hilton July 5, 2012, during his re-election campaign.

On Thursday, Andreoli — who is also part-owner of both the DoubleTree next door and the Sheraton Suites Akron Cuyahoga Falls, where other delegations are staying — and the Hilton’s General Manger Timothy Winter had just wrapped up a meeting with the FBI about security during the RNC when they talked with a reporter.

“Is it extra work with the delegations? Not so much,” Winter said. “We were full last week, we’re full this week.”

The Hilton is a regular stop for musicians who play at Blossom Music Center. When LeBron James — a regular at Beau’s Grille, the hotel’s restaurant — chose to debut his movie, Trainwreck here, producer Judd Apatow and James’ co-stars Amy Schumer and Bill Hader were guests.

Security will be tighter during the RNC, Andreoli said, but nothing like it was for Obama. That, he said, took three weeks of planning for Obama to stay 12 hours in room 464.

Market Street in front of the hotel was closed, local school buses were parked to form a giant yellow fence around the Hilton and sharpshooters lined the hotel roof.

“So when you ask if [the RNC] is a big deal? No, there’s been bigger than this,” Andreoli said. “But this is a big deal for us, a big deal for Akron, for the community.”

Amanda Garrett can be reached at 330-996-3725 or agarrett@thebeaconjournal.com.

Three Baton Rouge officers killed in shooting; suspect dead

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BATON ROUGE, La.: Three Baton Rouge law enforcement officers investigating a report of a man with an assault rifle were killed Sunday, less than two weeks after a black man was fatally shot by police in Baton Rouge in a confrontation that sparked nightly protests that reverberated nationwide.

Three other officers were wounded, one critically. Police said the gunman was killed at the scene. Although he was believed to be the only person who fired at officers, authorities said they were unsure whether he had some kind of help.

“We are not ready to say he acted alone,” state police spokesman Maj. Doug Cain said. Two “persons of interests” were detained in the nearby town of Addis.

A witness described the gunman as wearing all black and carrying extra clips of ammunition. He was identified as Gavin Long of Kansas City, said East Baton Rouge Parish Mayor-President Kip Holden.

The 29-year-old black man served in the Marines from 2005 to 2010, reaching the rank of sergeant. He deployed to Iraq from June 2008 to January 2009, according to military records.

Long was awarded several medals, including one for good conduct, and received an honorable discharge. His occupational expertise was listed as “data network specialist.”

The University of Alabama issued a statement saying that Long attended classes for one semester in the spring of 2012. A school spokesman said university police had no interactions with him.

In Kansas City, police officers, some with guns drawn, converged on a house listed as Long’s.

The shooting — which took place just before 9 a.m., less than a mile from police headquarters — came amid escalating tensions across the country between the black community and police. Just days earlier, one of the slain officers posted an emotional Facebook message about the challenges of police work in the current environment.

It was the fourth high-profile deadly encounter in the United States involving police over the past two weeks. In all, the violence has cost the lives of eight officers, including those in Baton Rouge, and two civilians and sparked a national debate over race and policing.

President Barack Obama urged Americans to tamp down inflammatory words and actions.

“We as a nation have to be loud and clear that nothing justifies attacks on law enforcement,” Obama said in remarks from the White House. “Everyone right now focus on words and actions that can unite this country rather than divide it further.”

Authorities initially believed that additional assailants might be at large, but hours later said there were no other active shooters on the loose. They did not discuss the gunman’s motive or any relationship to the wider police conflicts.

The shooting began at a gas station on Airline Highway. According to radio traffic, Baton Rouge police answered a report of a man with an assault rifle and were met by gunfire. For several long minutes, they did not know where it was coming from.

The radio exchanges were made public Sunday by the website Broadcastify.

Nearly 2½ minutes after the first report of an officer getting shot, an officer on the scene is heard saying police do not know the shooter’s location.

Almost six minutes pass after the first shots are reported before police say they have determined the shooter’s location. About 30 seconds later, someone says shots are still being fired.

The recording lasts about 17 minutes and includes urgent calls for an armored personnel carrier called a BearCat.

“There simply is no place for more violence,” Gov. John Bel Edwards said. “It doesn’t further the conversation. It doesn’t address any injustice perceived or real. It is just an injustice in and of itself.”

From his window, Joshua Godwin said he saw the suspect, who was dressed in black with a ski mask, combat boots and extra bullets. He appeared to be running “from an altercation.”

Mike Spring awoke at a nearby house to a sound that he thought was from firecrackers. The noise went on for five to 10 minutes, getting louder.

Of the two officers who survived the shooting, one was hospitalized in critical condition, and the other was in fair condition. Another officer was being treated for non-life-threatening injuries, hospital officials said.

Two of the slain officers were from the Baton Rouge Police Department: 32-year-old Montrell Jackson, who had been on the force for a decade, and 41-year-old Matthew Gerald, who had been there for less than a year.

The third fatality was Brad Garafola, 45 and a 24-year veteran of the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office.

Facebook posting

Jackson, who was black, posted his message on Facebook on July 8, just three days after the death of 37-year-old Alton Sterling, a black man killed by white Baton Rouge officers after a scuffle at a convenience store.

In the message, Jackson said he was physically and emotionally tired and complained that while in uniform, he gets nasty looks. When he’s out of uniform, he said, some people consider him a threat.

A friend of Jackson’s family, Erika Green, confirmed the posting, which is no longer on Facebook. A screenshot of the image was circulating widely on the internet.

The Baton Rouge attack unfolded hours after a domestic violence suspect opened fire early Sunday on a Milwaukee police officer who was sitting in his squad car. The officer was seriously wounded, and the suspect fled and apparently killed himself, authorities said.

Police-community relations in Baton Rouge have been especially tense since Sterling’s death. The killing was captured on cellphone video.

It was followed a day later by the shooting death of another black man in Minnesota, whose girlfriend livestreamed the aftermath of his death on Facebook. The next day, a black gunman in Dallas opened fire on police at a protest about the police shootings, killing five officers and heightening tensions even further.

Thousands of people have protested Sterling’s death, and Baton Rouge police arrested more than 200 demonstrators.

Sterling’s nephew condemned the killing of the three Baton Rouge officers. Terrance Carter spoke Sunday to the Associated Press by telephone, saying the family just wants peace.

“My uncle wouldn’t want this,” Carter said. “He wasn’t this type of man.”

Michelle Rogers and her husband drove near the shooting scene, but were blocked at an intersection closed by police.

“I can’t explain what brought us here,” she said. “We just said a prayer in the car for the families.”


RNC Day 1: A peaceful exercise of rights

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The first major test of whether violence would erupt in Cleveland during the Republican National Convention happened Sunday, with protesters chanting anti-police messages while marching alongside a long line of police officers.

The march and rally, attended by hundreds of people wielding signs for various causes, ended peacefully.

“The power is not at the ballot box,” one of the protesters shouted into a bullhorn as the event wound down. “The power is here in the street!”

The event, organized by the Shut Down Trump & the RNC Committee, is among numerous protests planned by different groups this week, many of which occurred Sunday, the day before the convention convened.

Several hundred people gathered at a peaceful rally along a major bridge near downtown Cleveland on Sunday afternoon.

The “Circle the City With Love” event began with a Dixieland-style band leading participants onto the bridge. Once people lined the entire bridge on either side, they held hands and waited in silence for several minutes.

After an air horn signaled the end of the vigil, the participants, including several children, walked back off the bridge.

Another protest planned for Sunday fizzled. A group called Northeast Ohio Open Carry had planned a noon rally Sunday in downtown Cleveland, but only 57-year-old Steve Thacker showed up with guns. He drew attention from news media as Cleveland police officers milled nearby and a line of around 60 police bicyclists took a break before pedaling off.

Thacker said he carried a semi-automatic rifle and a handgun to make a statement about his rights. He complained that fees and background checks associated with purchasing weapons results in the government “selling back” his privilege to buy and own firearms.

Meanwhile, the Cleveland police union asked Gov. John Kasich to suspend Ohio’s laws allowing the carrying of weapons around the RNC, according to several local and national news organizations.

Kasich responded that it is not in his power to suspend the law.

The Shut Down Trump & the RNC march began east of Cleveland State University and headed toward the museum area, where all RNC delegates had been invited to assemble for a reception.

They carried signs with a myriad of messages, including “Black Lives Matter,” “No Racism/No Fascism,” “[Donald] Trump is a Capitalist Pig,” “Refugees Welcome,” and “Free Palestine.” At times, the group had two chants going on at the same time.

As they made their way toward downtown, people stopped to watch, among them delegates and their families.

Jan McMahan, whose husband is an alternate delegate from Arkansas, said she heard what was going on, so she walked down to see.

“It’s sad they have to do this, but it’s a free country,” she said. “They can stand up for what they believe.”

McMahan said she hopes no one gets hurt.

Marching with the protesters were representatives of the D.C. Peace Team, a nonpartisan, nonviolence organization that attempts to defuse tense situations.

Team member John Reuwer from Harrisburg, Pa., said, “The idea is to keep everybody safe.” He was pleased the protest was proceeding without any violence. “So far, so good,” he said.

Police officers had a commanding presence during the event, though, with a line of black-clad officers on bicycles forming a perimeter for the demonstrators. Some of the officers wore black outer body armor and helmets that nearly covered their faces.

As the officers rode or walked their bikes, the protesters rotated among chants that included a few with anti-police slants, like, “No justice! No peace! No racist police!”

Some of the protesters were motivated to attend the event for more than one reason. Len Piechowski of Cleveland is white but his son and grandson are African-American, so he said “black lives matter” to him. He also is gay and said the rights of homosexuals are important to him.

“I couldn’t sit at home and let the RNC go unanswered,” said Piechowski, who held a “Defend Black Lives Matter” sign.

A protester from the group Code Pink that promotes an anti-war message stopped during the march and wrote in light blue chalk on the street, “We come in peace.”

The protest ended in the street at Ninth and Lakeside just outside of Willard Park, the spot designated for demonstrators. Some of the protesters were still upset that they aren’t allowed to demonstrate closer to Quicken Loans Arena where the convention is being held.

“We have the First Amendment right to do whatever the f*** we want,” said Scott Williams, a protester from Philadelphia. “They’re keeping us a mile and a half away!”

A man dressed in a pink Polo shirt walked through the waning protest on the way to the RNC festivities that evening, escorted by a police officer.

“This is great,” he said, looking at the protesters. “This is what our country is founded on.”

Videos by Beacon Journal correspondent Angel Evans can be found on the Beacon Journal Facebook page.

Stephanie Warsmith can be reached at 330-996-3705, swarsmith@thebeaconjournal.com or on Twitter: @swarsmithabj. The Associate Press contributed to this report.

Severe storms possible for Akron-Canton area

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A cold front moving through Northeast Ohio Monday could bring some severe storms with high winds and hail, according to the Cleveland office of the National Weather Service.

While the chance of rain is only 50 percent, the weather service warns that any storms that do develop could include large hail, downpours and damaging winds.

The chance of storms is highest away from Lake Erie, from daybreak Monday until about midnight.

Temperatures won’t cool much — highs in the low 80s through the week — then are expected to rise into the 90s by the weekend.

Christie: ‘No discontent’ after Trump passes him over for running mate

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BEACHWOOD, OHIO: New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie says he has “no discontent” over presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump’s decision to choose someone else as his running mate.

Christie told reporters Sunday night that he didn’t lobby for the position and was honored to be considered. Trump on Friday chose Indiana Gov. Mike Pence after a vetting process that also included New Jersey’s Republican governor.

Christie gave his first public comments since Trump’s decision after a private speech Sunday at a hotel near where Republicans are gathering for this week’s convention in Cleveland.

He says he has been friends with Trump for 15 years and this is “just another one of those steps along our friendship and a hard decision for him to make, and he made what he thought was the best decision.”

Indians outfielder Michael Brantley goes 0-for-3 in rehab start for RubberDucks, ‘felt OK’

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Indians outfielder Michael Brantley had a mostly uneventful day in his second rehab start with the RubberDucks on Sunday, his second appearance in the last three days.

Brantley played seven innings and went 0-for-3, hitting routine ground balls each time. On the third, he reached on an error and later scored. He didn’t see action defensively in left field.

“I felt OK,” Brantley said. “I would have liked to get a couple more hits, that’d be nice. But getting the repetition down is important.”

Brantley was originally expected to play on Saturday after going 0-for-4 Friday night, but the trainers pulled him from the lineup. He’s still waiting until he can play back-to-back days, a key milestone in his recovery.

“It wasn’t my decision,” Brantley said of not playing Saturday. “My decision was to tell them how I feel every day and go by them like an everyday process. I felt OK, we just skipped a day.”

Brantley, along with Indians manager Terry Francona and the club, have used the word “excited” for his progress in his third attempt to stick in the everyday lineup.

“[It’s] more how I’ve responded every day waking up,” Brantley said. “I think that’s one of the biggest things for recovery time. That’s one of the things I kept fighting with [the first two times]. Just to be able to play baseball every day is very important.”

Brantley will still likely have multiple rehab appearances to make before he can return to Cleveland. Moving forward, his schedule is unclear and will continue to be updated on a day-to-day basis.

For now, the wait for a key piece in the middle of the Indians’ lineup continues.

Ryan Lewis can be reached at rlewis@thebeaconjournal.com. Read the Indians blog at www.ohio.com/indians. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/RyanLewisABJ and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/RyanLewisABJ

RNC delegates rock out to Lynyrd Skynyrd, Doobie Brothers on eve of convention opening

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CLEVELAND: On a highway south of Cleveland, a driver steadied her cellphone on the steering wheel to take a picture of a passing Toyota 4Runner.

The black SUV, decked out in star decals and Donald Trump for president stickers, drew the gaze of motorists Sunday as it headed toward Cleveland.

American flags pinned to car windows fluttered on the roads leading into downtown ahead of the Republican National Convention this week.

As the city’s skyscraper appeared on the horizon, airplanes could be seen dragging banners across the cloud-patched sky, carrying messages that reminded visitors and residents of the politics of the coming week. One flapping advertisement, which read “Rescue Unborn Children,” hung over the city like the debates that would ensue between liberals and conservatives over the next four days.

At the Doubletree Hotel near the edge of Lake Erie, Ohio delegates sworn to vote for John Kasich — at least on the first ballot at the presidential nominating convention — shuffled into the lobby. At the counter, they grabbed a room key and were directed around the corner to a conference room where Republican volunteers waited to greet them.

Each was given a welcome packet, including a copy of Trump’s Crippled America, a “Make America Great Again” ballcap, beer glasses emblazoned with the billionaire’s name and an itinerary for the week.

Jeff Halley, the Republican director of the Gallia County Board of Elections, didn’t wear the hat he found in the welcome bag.

He brought the one he’s been wearing for months.

“I was a Trump fan before it was cool,” said Halley, a guest at the convention.

The man from southern Ohio didn’t plan on attending the presidential nominating convention in Cleveland. But when his county party chairman had an extra ticket for the celebration, Halley was the first choice.

“He figured if anyone deserved to go, it’s me,” said Halley, the only one wearing a Trump hat on a bus loaded with Ohio Republicans headed to a Lynyrd Skynyrd concert on the eve of the convention.

At the show, a line of lucky Republicans huddled in a corner beneath the stands at Jacobs Pavilion, waiting their turns to take a photograph with the surviving members of the band.

Standing between the band and the anxious crowd were the state’s top Republicans: U.S. Rep. Jim Renacci, House Speaker Cliff Rosenberger, state party chairman Matt Borges and state Rep. Ron Amstutz, among others.

The concert was scheduled to end around midnight. And the delegates, who received Pedialyte and an “anti-hangover” elixir, were scheduled to gather back at their hotel at 8 a.m. for breakfast with Ohio Treasurer Josh Mandel.

Little Italy excursion

Earlier in the day, a shuttle whisked delegates 20 minutes away from the hotel to Little Italy, where they enjoyed the cuisine and intimate conversation with Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine, who did not address the group as a whole.

“I don’t know if you’ve ever had deep fried meatballs, but it was amazing, said Carolyn Adams, an alternate delegate from Marblehead.

Daqueayce Swain, a junior at Baldwin Wallace University who is studying public relations with a focus on politics, was shadowing the group as an honorary delegate. He said this was his second time meeting DeWine, who has recently confirmed his interest in running for governor.

“When I met him this time, I told him he’ll be running against me in 2018. He just laughed,” Swain said of the friendly banter.

The delegation also flowed in and out of a yacht party near the hotel featuring a performance by the Doobie Brothers.

Re-examining safety

In a crowd earlier in the day, Cincinnati-area delegate Sherri Carbo couldn’t shake the thought of a terrorist attack in Nice, France, where a truck plowed into a celebratory gathering on Bastille Day, killing more than 80.

More than the recent rash of gun violence between black men and police, it’s terrorism that worries Carbo, who has a license to carry a concealed weapon but left it at home. She figured if tensions flare between races or even Trump’s fans and enemies, there would be little she could do with a handgun that thousands of armed and ready officers can’t handle.

In a pre-convention survey published by the Columbus Dispatch on Saturday, one third of delegates said they expect violence during the political proceeding.

Carbo wasn’t among the fearful. But that was before the attacks in France.

“I would answer differently now,” she said Sunday. “It was because [the truck attack] was such a simplistic thing.”

Time to vent

While awaiting the shuttle to Little Italy, Donald and Judy Miller took a break on a couch in the hotel lobby.

The Millers drove from Fostoria to Cleveland on Saturday “to beat the traffic.” Having represented other presidential candidates at past nominating conventions, Donald Miller wasn’t too happy with Ohio’s governor. Kasich wasn’t in Cleveland to greet the state’s guests and had no plans to go near the Trump-controlled convention inside Quicken Loans Arena, Miller said.

“I’m very disappointed,” he said of Kasich avoiding the convention, a sign of turmoil in a political party that isn’t all-in for its presumptive nominee. “And I’m not the only delegate who is disappointed.”

Miller penned a letter voicing his disapproval and sent it to Kasich, who actually was in town.

In fact, word of Kasich’s absence was greatly exaggerated.

Governor’s dance card

Kasich drove into Cleveland on Sunday morning to check up on security before heading to Cincinnati in the afternoon to speak at the annual meeting of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. There, he delivered a message of unity and peace, contrasting sharply with Trump’s divisive tone on race relations as America strains to reconcile recent shootings of police and black men.

And he won’t be gone for long. His campaign staff issued a release late Sunday that shows he’ll appear in Cleveland three more days to help Republicans other than Trump.

He’ll be thanking those who supported his failed presidential bid and campaigning for down-ticket candidates, like Sen. Rob Portman, who also is avoiding Trump.

Kasich will speak to the Ohio delegation plus those of four other states: New Hampshire, where he came in second behind Trump in the primaries; Pennsylvania, where he grew up, and fellow Midwestern states Michigan and Illinois. He’ll also speak to the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the International Republican Institute and make appearances on behalf of some political action committees.

But he will not set foot inside the Q.

“At this point, he does not feel like he can endorse Donald Trump,” said Chris Schrimpf, Kasich’s political spokesman. “And he doesn’t feel that it would be right to go inside a convention with a host that he cannot yet support.”

“The governor will always do what he think is right,” Schrimpf added.

Beacon Journal reporter Doug Livingston will be in Cleveland with the convention through the acceptance speech. He can be emailed at dlivingston@thebeaconjournal.com

RNC in Cleveland: Guns show up early; ongoing report for Sunday

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Beacon Journal reporters Doug Livingston, Stephanie Warsmith, Malcolm Abram and Rich Heldenfels were in Cleveland Sunday to cover the opening festivities for the Republican National Convention.

Below are developments from them and Beacon Journal wire services.

6:20 p.m.

Ken Nwadike, founder of the West Coast based Free Hugs organization flew into Cleveland with a plan to attend many demonstrations and protests with the aim of helping to “keep the peace.”

Nwadike said he has been specifically asked by officers at past protests to step in and help defuse tense situations. His expectations for the RNC: “Not good.”

“I expect there will be trouble. I just hope nobody gets murdered. That would be the end. You can’t come back from death,” Nwadike said.

—Macolm Abram

6:15 p.m.

The crowd at the Keep the Promise concert wasn’t huge, but it was eclectic. Families of all colors and configurations and age ranges mingled with aged hippies and a pair of drag nuns in makeup. Non-profits including AHF, Free Hugs and the AIDS task force of greater Cleveland handed out branded graft and informational awareness pamphlets.

Contemporary gospel duo & reality TV stars Mary Mary reminded attendees that “we’re all angry, but the Bible says be angry at the sin, not the sinner! Drawing cheers.

—Malcolm Abram

5:30 p.m.

As a parade of anti-RNC marchers made their way eastward toward downtown, people stopped to watch, among them delegates and their families.

Jan McMahan, whose husband is alternate delegate from Arkansas, said she heard what was going on, so she walked down to see.

“Its sad they have to do this, but it’s a free country,” she said. “They can stand up for what they believe.” She said she hopes no one gets hurt given what’s going on around the country.

Marching with the group were representatives of the DC Peace Team, a non-partisan non-violence organization that attempts to diffuse tense situations.

Team member John Reuwer from Harrisburg, Pa., said, “The idea is to keep everybody safe.”

Meanwhile, as some marchers changed anti-police slogans, police with bicycles were riding and walking along with the parade.

—Stephanie Warsmith

4:40 p.m.

Hundreds of people gathered at a peaceful rally along a major bridge near downtown Cleveland the day before the Republican National Convention gets underway.

The “Circle the City With Love” event began with a Dixieland-style band leading participants onto the bridge on Sunday afternoon.

Once people lined the entire bridge on either side, they held hands and waited in silence for several minutes.

After an air horn signaled the end of the vigil, the participants, including several children, walked back off the bridge.

At about the same time, a protest group began its march toward downtown, beginning east of Cleveland State University and headed toward the museum area, where all RNC delegates have been invited to assemble later for a reception.

—Stephanie Warsmith and the Associated Press

3:30 p.m.

The Cleveland Police union asked Gov. John Kasich to suspend Ohio’s laws allowing the carrying of weapons around the RNC, according to several local and national news organizations.

Kasich responded that it is not in his power to suspend the law.

3:10 p.m.

From Twitter: Made it to @RNC_official media parking after dogs sniffed my car and secret service looked under my hood w flashlights. Wow!

— Stephanie Warsmith

2:30 p.m.

An Ohio man says he decided to visit Cleveland’s Public Square armed with a semi-automatic rifle and a handgun the day before the start of the Republican National Convention to assert his Second Amendment rights.

A group called Northeast Ohio Open Carry had planned a noon rally Sunday in downtown Cleveland, but only 57-year-old Steve Thacker showed up with guns. He drew attention from news media as Cleveland police officers milled nearby and a line of around 60 police bicyclists took a break before pedaling off.

Ohio law allows legal gun owners to openly carry firearms. Thacker says he was trying to make a statement about his rights. He complained that fees and background checks associated with purchasing weapons results in the government “selling back” his privilege to buy and own firearms.

— Associated Press

2:15 p.m.

There was disappointment among some Ohio delegates that the state’s Republican governor John Kasich won’t be a participant.

Donald Miller, a delegate from Fostoria, said he penned a letter to Kasich voicing his disapproval in the governor’s deliberate absence.

“I’m very disappointed and I’m not the only one,” Miller said while sitting in the lobby of the Doubletree Hotel where most of the Ohio delegation will stay this week.

Miller and his wife Judy, each a former delegate, drove to Cleveland Saturday to beat the traffic. They planned to mingle with fellow Ohio Republicans in the city’s Little Italy Sunday afternoon but declined an invitation from the Republican Party of Cuyahoga County to take a sunset cruise on Lake Erie later that night.

Active in the Ohio Republican Party’s leadership committee, Donald Miller said Kasich pledged to support the presumptive nominee and should stick to his word for the sake of party unity.

Kasich, while still a contender, had say he would support whoever emerged victorious from the contentious primary. But he has since walked back that promise and has not endorsed Trump.

Instead of joining other state and national conservative leaders in Cleveland, Kasich was scheduled to speak at the annual NAACP gathering in Cincinnati, where he would deliver a message of peace and healing that contrasts sharply with the divisive tone Trump has taken when addressing tattered race relations in America.

— Doug Livingston

1 p.m.

Police cars and vans from out of state were rolling into Cleveland Sunday as they assemble to provide security.

— Doug Livingston

Follow reporter Stephanie Warsmith at @SWarsmithABJ

Follow reporter Rich Heldenfels at @RHeldenfelsABJ

Follow reporter Doug Livingston at @ABJDoug

RNC speakers and schedule announced

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If you want to learn about the Trump family and Donald Trump’s business associates, watching the Republican National Convention will provide a glimpse.

The convention planners Sunday afternoon released the speaker schedule, and the family and associates will be among the many speakers.

The list is very long, and includes his opponents in the Republican primary, with the exception of Ohio Gov. John Kasich. Other notables include military and border guard families, top leaders in the U.S. House and Senate, Jerry Falwell Jr., many successful business executives and, one of the first on the bill, Willie Robertson, the star of Duck Dynasty.

Here’s the news release that was made public Sunday afternoon.

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Jeff Larson, CEO of the 2016 Republican National Convention, today released an updated program for the “Make America Great Again” convention, July 18-21, in Cleveland.

Veterans, political outsiders, faith leaders and presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump’s family members will lead an unconventional lineup of speakers who have real-world experience and will make a serious case against the status quo and for an agenda that will make America great again.

Daily Themes & Headliners:

Monday: Make America Safe Again

Headliners: Melania Trump, Lieutenant General (ret.) Michael Flynn, U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Jason Beardsley and U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke (Mont.).

Tuesday: Make America Work Again

Headliners: Tiffany Trump, Kerry Woolard, Donald Trump, Jr., U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (WV), Ben Carson and Kimberlin Brown.

Wednesday: Make America First Again

Headliners: Lynne Patton; Eric Trump; former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Newt Gingrich, and Indiana Governor Mike Pence, whom Donald Trump has chosen as his vice presidential running mate.

Thursday: Make America One Again

Headliners: Peter Thiel, Tom Barrack, Ivanka Trump and Donald Trump.

A fuller list of daily program speakers and their backgrounds follows:

Monday: Make America Safe Again

From attacks on our own soil and overseas to the tragedy in Benghazi, the policies of Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton have left us vulnerable. Our immigration system is broken, leaving our country open to security threats and the negative consequences of illegal immigration. A Donald Trump administration will listen to and learn from our nation’s heroes who have put themselves in harm’s way and pursue a national security strategy and foreign policy that will strengthen our military and make America safe again.

Prime-Time Speakers

Please note: The speakers below are part of the prime-time program, which will follow Monday afternoon’s Convention Business Session.

Willie Robertson, CEO of Duck Commander and Buck Commander, star of Duck Dynasty

The star of A&E’s hit series Duck Dynasty, Willie Robertson, is the CEO of Duck Commander and Buck Commander, a New York Times bestselling author, traveling speaker, father of five, and an avid outdoorsman.

Governor Rick Perry, Former Governor of Texas

A fifth-generation Texan, Perry grew up in Haskell County. His parents were cotton farmers, and Perry was among the first in his family to attend college. Perry served as Texas’ lieutenant governor from 1999 to 2000. In 2000, he was elected governor and remains the longest-serving governor in Texas history.

Marcus Luttrell, U.S. Navy SEAL

Marcus Luttrell is a retired U.S. Navy SEAL and author of the book Lone Survivor, in which he tells the harrowing tale of a fierce battle in eastern Afghanistan in 2005. Since returning from war, Luttrell has started the Lone Survivor Foundation and become involved with The Boot Campaign. He also has written a second book, Service, which honors and praises all members of the military.

Scott Baio, Actor and Television Producer

Scott Baio is an actor and television producer. He landed his first starring role in the 1976 movie Bugsy Malone and is known for portraying memorable characters on several hit television shows, including Happy Days, Joanie Loves Chachi, and Charles In Charge. More recently, he has appeared in the Emmy Award-winning show Arrested Development and the Nick at Nite comedy See Dad Run, which he also produces. When he was young, Baio campaigned for Ronald Reagan, and in the 2016 GOP primary, he endorsed presumptive nominee Donald Trump.

Pat Smith, Mother of Benghazi victim, Sean Smith

Patricia (Pat) Smith is the mother of Sean Smith, who was killed during the attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya on September 11, 2012. Ever since that night, Smith has sought to learn the truth behind the events that led to the death of four Americans, including her only child.

Mark Geist, U.S. Marine Corps veteran, Fought in Battle of Benghazi

Mark “Oz” Geist was a member of the Annex Security Team that fought the Battle of Benghazi in Libya from September 11 to September 12, 2012. A Colorado native, Geist joined the United States Marine Corps in 1984 and served for 12 years.

John Tiegen, U.S. Marine Corps veteran, Fought in Battle of Benghazi

John “Tig” Tiegen was a member of the Annex Security Team that fought during the attack in Benghazi, Libya on September 11, 2012. He is responsible for saving many lives and has been recognized for his bravery. He has since co-authored the New York Times best-selling book 13 Hours, the harrowing tale of what really happened in Benghazi.

Kent Terry and Kelly Terry-Willis, The Brian Terry Foundation

Brian Terry was a Border Patrol agent who died tragically while protecting our nation’s border with Mexico. His death was a result of Operation Fast and Furious, a gun-walking operation gone wrong that put assault weapons into the hands of Mexican narco-terrorists. Kent Terry and Kelly Terry-Willis, Brian’s siblings, carry on his legacy through the Brian Terry Foundation.

Antonio Sabato, Jr., Actor

Daytime television viewers know actor Antonio Sabato Jr. for his roles on General Hospital and The Bold and the Beautiful.

Mary Ann Mendoza, Immigration Reform Advocate

Mary Ann Mendoza is a passionate advocate for immigration reform because she has experienced the consequences of our failed system. This May marked the second anniversary of her son Brandon’s death. Brandon, a Mesa Police Sergeant, was 32 when a drunk driver traveling on the wrong side of the highway crashed head-on into the car he was driving. The drunk driver was in the United States illegally, and despite being convicted of crimes years earlier, he was not deported.

Sabine Durden, Immigration Reform Advocate

Sabine Durden is an advocate for immigration reform. In 2012, her son Dominic died in a motorcycle accident when he was a hit by a truck driven by an unlicensed, uninsured, and unregistered driver who was in the United States illegally. In the wake of losing her only son, Sabine has been a vocal critic of our immigration system and has lobbied the federal government to defund sanctuary cities that do not actively search, prosecute, or detain unauthorized immigrants.

Jamiel Shaw, Immigration Reform Advocate

On March 2, 2008, Jamiel Shaw’s son, Jamiel Andre’ Shaw, II (Jas), was murdered while returning home from the Beverly Center Mall in Los Angeles, California. The shooter was a gang member in the United States illegally. He had been released from jail less than 24 hours before he killed Jas, even though there was a deportation hold on him. In honor of Jas’s life, Jamiel Sr. has worked tirelessly to raise awareness about our broken immigration system.

U.S. Representative Michael McCaul (TX-10)

U.S. Rep. Michael T. McCaul is currently serving his sixth term representing Texas’ 10th District in the United States House of Representatives. During his tenure, McCaul has developed a strong track record of fighting for lower taxes and less government spending. He serves as Chairman of the U.S. House Homeland Security Committee.

David Clarke, Sheriff of Milwaukee County

David Clarke is the sheriff of Milwaukee County, Wisconsin. He began his career in law enforcement with the Milwaukee Police Department (MPD). In 1992, he was promoted to lieutenant of detectives, and in 1996, he earned a promotion to captain of police and became part of the department’s command staff. As captain, Clarke was responsible for the department’s First Division, and in 1999, he became commanding officer of the MPD’s Intelligence Division.

U.S. Representative Sean Duffy (WI-7)

U.S. Representative Sean Duffy serves Wisconsin’s 7th District. Duffy is married to Rachel Campos-Duffy, whom he met while appearing on MTV’s hit television show The Real World, and the couple now has eight children. In Congress, Duffy is working to reduce government spending, lower taxes, promote individual freedom, and limit government intrusion.

Rachel Campos Duffy, The LIBRE Initiative

Rachel Campos-Duffy is the national spokeswoman for The LIBRE Initiative, a non-profit organization dedicated to the economic empowerment of the Hispanic community through conservative ideals. Campos-Duffy is also a commentator and television personality; she began her television career on MTV’s iconic reality television show, The Real World.

Darryl Glenn, El Paso County Commissioner

County Commissioner Darryl Glenn is the current Republican nominee for U.S. Senate in Colorado, running to defeat incumbent U.S. Senator Michael Bennet in the general election this fall. Glenn won the Republican nomination with 37.5% of the vote in a crowded primary field.

U.S. Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas)

For nearly five years, Cotton served as an infantry officer in the U.S. Army. He completed two combat tours, serving in Iraq with the 101st Airborne and in Afghanistan. Upon returning home, Cotton worked for McKinsey & Co. and served one term in the U.S. House of Representatives. In 2015, he was elected to the U.S. Senate, where he represents the state of Arkansas.

Karen Vaughn, Mother of fallen U.S. Navy SEAL

Karen Vaughn is the mother of fallen U.S. Navy SEAL Aaron Carson Vaughn (SEAL Team VI). On August 6, 2011, Aaron was killed in action in the Tangi River Valley of Afghanistan when a chopper (call sign Extortion 17) carrying thirty Americans was shot from the sky while rushing into battle. Over the past four years, Karen has emerged as a powerful spokeswoman for American forces fighting on foreign soil and securing peace across the globe.

U.S. Senator Jeff Sessions (R-Alabama)

U.S. Senator Jeff Sessions is serving his third term representing the people of Alabama. A senior member of the Armed Services Committee and the Budget Committee, he is also a member of the Judiciary Committee and chairman of its subcommittee on Immigration and National Interest. A strong advocate for securing the border, Sessions was the first U.S. Senator to endorse Donald Trump and has acted as a liaison between the Trump campaign and Capitol Hill.

Rudy Giuliani, Former Mayor of New York City

Giuliani was wrapping up his second term in office when New York City was attacked on September 11, 2001. Immediately following the attack, Giuliani coordinated rescue operations that saved as many as 20,000 lives. Because of his strong leadership in the aftermath of September 11th, Americans came to see him as a voice of reassurance and consolation during an uncertain time.

Melania Trump, Businesswoman and Wife of Donald Trump

Melania married Donald Trump in January 2005. In March 2006 they had their first child, Barron William Trump. Born on April 26, 1970 in Slovenia, Melania Knauss began her modeling career at the age of sixteen. At the age of eighteen, she signed with a modeling agency in Milan. After obtaining a degree in design and architecture at University in Slovenia, Melania was jetting between photo shoots in Paris and Milan, finally settling in New York in 1996. Melania is dedicated to helping others, and her generosity has been noted. She was Honorary Chairwoman for Martha Graham Dance Company in April 2005; is an active member of the Police Athletic League which honored her with Woman of the Year 2006; has been an Honorary Chairwoman for The Boy’s Club of New York for five consecutive years; and in 2005, the American Red Cross awarded her with Goodwill Ambassador, which she has proudly served for four years. In April of 2008, Melania was asked by Love Our Children USA and NASDAQ to participate in the Fifth Annual National Love Our Children Day and the beginning of National Child Abuse Prevention month by ringing the closing bell at NASDAQ.

Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, U.S. Army (ret.)

Lieutenant General Michael T. Flynn has spent his entire life and career serving his country. He served in various command and staff positions in the U.S. Army and as Assistant Director of National Intelligence for Partner Engagement before becoming Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency on July 24, 2012. During his time in the Army, Lieutenant General Flynn held high-ranking leadership posts at the Joint Special Operations Command and U.S. Central Command. He served in both Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa)

U.S. Senator Joni Ernst has dedicated her life to Iowa and her country, having served in the military for over 23 years and now in the United States Senate. In November 2014, Ernst was elected as the first woman to serve in federal elected office from the State of Iowa and also became the first female combat veteran elected to serve in the United States Senate.

Jason Beardsley, Concerned Veterans for America

Jason Beardsley serves as Special Operations Advisor for Concerned Veterans for America and is the co-founder and CEO of The Underground Movement, a company that designs custom graphic t-shirts inspired by well-known and forgotten American heroes. Jason is a decorated military veteran with a combined 22 years of experience in the Army and Navy.

U.S. Representative Ryan Zinke (MT)

Congressman Ryan Zinke is currently serving the state of Montana’s at-large district in the United States House of Representatives. A former Navy SEAL, Zinke spent 23 years serving our country and fighting for America before entering public office. Continuously focused on giving back to the community that he grew up in, Zinke has used his time in office to push for improving the VA, reforming management of federal lands, preserving the future of family farming and ranching, and defending the Constitution.

Tuesday: Make America Work Again

The Obama years have delivered anemic economic growth, the lowest labor-force participation rate in 38 years, and job-killing regulations and legislation like Obamacare. These policies are crushing middle-class families, and a Hillary Clinton presidency would merely be an Obama third term that would deliver the same poor results. Donald Trump is a successful businessman with a solid record of creating jobs and the experience we need to get America’s economy up and running … and get Americans working again.

Prime-Time Speakers

Please note: The speakers below are part of the prime-time program, which will follow Tuesday’s Nomination Process.

Sharon Day, Co-Chair of the Republican National Committee

Sharon Day was elected Co-Chairman of the Republican National Committee on January 14, 2011, and was re-elected on January 25, 2013. From 2009-2011, she served as RNC Secretary. She has served the Republican Party at the local, state, and national levels for more than 20 years.

Dana White, President, UFC

Dana White is the president and business visionary behind the success of Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). A self-described political independent, White has expressed his gratitude to presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump for helping the UFC succeed. Trump hosted the once-controversial mixed martial arts competitions at his Trump Taj Mahal casino property when other venues shunned the sport.

Governor Asa Hutchison, Governor of Arkansas

Asa Hutchinson is serving his first term as Governor of Arkansas. His main priority is bringing more jobs and economic growth to his native state, and he is working hard to make Arkansas an attractive place to locate a business.

Leslie Rutledge, Arkansas Attorney General

Rutledge’s election in 2014 was the first time a woman or a Republican had been elected Arkansas Attorney General. Rutledge has joined Arkansas with Texas and other states in challenging the constitutionality of the Obama Administration’s executive orders on immigration and in filing to protect personal property rights.

Michael B, Mukasey, Former Attorney General

Michael Mukasey served as Attorney General of the United States from November 2007 to January 2009. Prior to serving as Attorney General, Mukasey served as a judge in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, becoming Chief Judge in 2000.

Andy Wist, Businessman

Andy Wist founded the Standard Waterproofing Company in 1979. Beginning in his mom’s basement in Brooklyn, Andy grew the company into one of the largest roofing, waterproofing, and landmark restoration companies in New York City, that today counts more than 180 employees and is headquartered in the Bronx.

U.S. Senator Ron Johnson (R-Wisconsin)

Elected in 2010, Johnson has been fighting to get the country’s fiscal house in order. He is focused on reining in government spending and bringing jobs back to the people of Wisconsin. Before being elected to office, Johnson started a polyester and plastics manufacturing business, PACUR, in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Running this small business, Johnson did everything from operating the equipment to keeping the company books.

Chris Cox, Executive Director of NRA Institute for Legislative Action

Chris Cox directs NRA’s nationwide legislative and political efforts. As a champion of the right to bear arms guaranteed by the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, Cox has directed NRA’s electoral efforts at every level. He has been at the forefront of efforts resisting Obama administration gun control initiatives as well as abuses of power including the Justice Department’s Operation Fast and Furious effort that knowingly allowed guns to “walk” to Mexican drug cartels.

Natalie Gulbis, Golfer, LPGA

Natalie Gulbis is a professional golfer playing on the U.S.-based LPGA tour. The California native has played golf since the age of four and earned second place in Rookie of the Year points during her first year on tour in 2002. Gulbis starred in the 2005 and 2006 reality show, The Natalie Gulbis Show, which aired on The Golf Channel. Gulbis wrote a much-talked about piece on golf.com entitled “The Donald Trump I Know” in which she voiced her strong support for Donald Trump to become President of the United States.

U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky)

U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell has represented the state of Kentucky since 1985, making him the state’s longest-serving senator. McConnell also serves in the Senate leadership; he is currently the Senate Majority Leader, and before assuming that role, he served an eight-year term as Senate Minority Leader.

U.S. Speaker of the House Paul Ryan (WI-1)

U.S. Speaker of the House Paul Ryan is the permanent chairman of the 2016 Republican National Convention. Born and raised in Janesville, Wisconsin, Ryan has spent his life advocating for real solutions that help increase opportunities for all Americans. He first won election to the U.S. House in 1999, and during his tenure, he has become known for his leadership on budget and fiscal matters.

U.S. House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (CA-23)

Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy has represented California in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2007. A fourth-generation resident of Kern County, California, he grew up in a working-class family and ran a small business, Kevin O’s Deli. He has applied this background to his work on behalf of small businesses and positions on burdensome taxes and regulations.

Governor Chris Christie, Governor of New Jersey

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie was a candidate for president in the 2016 Republican primary. First elected governor in 2010, he was re-elected to his second term in 2013. The governor’s top priorities include balancing the state’s budget, education reform, and changing the national conversation about drug addiction and treatment.

Tiffany Trump, Daughter of Donald Trump

Tiffany Trump was born October 13, 1993 to Donald Trump and Marla Maples. Raised in California, she is the second-youngest of Donald Trump’s children. Tiffany graduated from University of Pennsylvania this spring with a double major in sociology and urban studies. She is a fashion model, singer, and influential presence on social media.

Kerry Woolard, General Manager, Trump Winery

Kerry Woolard is the General Manager at Trump Winery, a 1,300-acre estate located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in central Virginia. A graduate of the College of William and Mary, Kerry has 15 years of winery management experience and has contributed to wine columns for the Wine Gazette and USA Today. In her role at Trump Winery, Kerry oversees all operations and has worked with Donald Trump to make the business a huge success.

Donald Trump, Jr., Son of Donald Trump and EVP, The Trump Organization

Donald J. Trump, Jr. is an innovator and leader in today’s business world. As an Executive Vice President at The Trump Organization, Donald Jr. works in tandem with his siblings Ivanka and Eric to expand the company’s real estate, retail, commercial, hotel and golf interests nationally and internationally. His extensive real estate development experience, rigorous education and inherent business sense add a level of detail and depth to the management of all current and future Trump projects.

U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-West Virginia)

U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito is the first woman elected to the U.S. Senate in West Virginia’s history. In 1996, Capito was elected to the 31st District of the West Virginia House of Delegates, where she served two terms and was the minority chairman on the Health and Human Resources Committee and a member of the Judiciary and Banking and Insurance Committees.

Dr. Ben Carson, Neurosurgeon

A candidate for the presidency in this year’s Republican primary, Ben Carson grew up in a poor, single-parent household in Detroit, Michigan. Initially a student earning mediocre grades, his mother encouraged him to read and cultivated his love of learning. Between his degrees, Carson worked as an X-ray technician, a bank teller, a school bus driver, a supervisor for highway cleanup crews, and a crane operator in a steel factory.

Kimberlin Brown, Actor

An actress best known for her roles in the television dramas The Young and the Restless and The Bold and the Beautiful, Kimberlin Brown is also a California avocado farmer, host of The Design Network’s interior designer show Dramatic Design, and a small business owner.

Wednesday: Make America First Again

America has always been an exceptional nation. Our Founding Fathers created a system of government that has protected our liberty, allowed American ingenuity to flourish, and lifted people out of poverty by creating the conditions for opportunity and prosperity. Unfortunately, years of bad policies and poor leadership have weakened our position in the world. Under a Trump administration, America will once again be a beacon of progress and opportunity.

Primetime Program, 7 P.M.

Laura Ingraham, Radio Host

A former white-collar defense attorney and Supreme Court law clerk, Laura Ingraham is the most-listened-to woman on political talk radio. The Laura Ingraham Show is ranked in radio’s Top 10, and heard coast-to-coast in 225 markets.

Phil Ruffin, Businessman

Ruffin is an American businessman with diverse interests in real estate, lodging, manufacturing, energy, and retail enterprises. Ruffin started his business in 1959 with a single convenience store and quickly grew to own 65 stores in four states. He currently holds 12 hotels in Kansas, Maryland, California, Oklahoma, Texas, and Alabama.

Pam Bondi, Attorney General of Florida

Pam Bondi is currently serving as Florida’s 37th Attorney General. Since being sworn into office on January 4, 2011, Bondi has worked tirelessly to protect the people of Florida and uphold the state’s laws and the Constitution. During her tenure, she has focused on defending Florida’s constitutional rights against the federal health care law.

Eileen Collins, Astronaut (retired)

Eileen Collins is an astronaut and veteran of four Space Shuttle missions. She was the first woman to command a Space Shuttle mission and logged over 537 hours in space during her tenure at NASA.

Michelle Van Etten, Small Business Owner

Michelle Van Etten is a small business owner who was recently featured in The Greatest Networkers in the World second edition. Michelle employs over 100,000 people and is a strong supporter of Donald Trump, knowing his policies will support businesses all across America.

Kentucky State Senator Ralph Alvarado, Jr.

Ralph Alvarado is currently serving as a Kentucky State Senator. Trained as a physician specializing in internal medicine and pediatrics, Alvarado worked as President of Winchester Medical Associates before joining KentuckyOne Medical Group. Alvarado’s experience as a small business owner gave him firsthand knowledge of how tough business ownership can be.

Darrell Scott, Pastor

Dr. Darrell C. Scott, Senior Pastor and Co-Founder of New Spirit Revival Center Ministries, has given his life to spreading the word of God and helping those in need. Scott started the New Spirit Revival Center in Cleveland Heights, Ohio on February 14, 1994, with just four members in attendance. His ministry has since grown to numbers in the thousands and has focused on reviving its Cleveland Community.

Harold Hamm, Continental Resources

Harold Hamm is an American entrepreneur and played a key role in the development of the technologies behind the United States’ recent renaissance in oil and natural gas production. Born in Lexington, Oklahoma, Hamm was the youngest of 13 children. With just a high-school education, Hamm started his own business at the age of 21. This grassroots startup, Continental Resources, soon became a NYSE-traded, Top 10 oil producer in the United States Lower 48.

Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker

A candidate in the 2016 Republican presidential primary, Scott Walker is the 45th governor of Wisconsin. He was first elected in 2010 and re-elected to a second term in 2014. Upon taking office, Walker proposed bold reforms that eliminated Wisconsin’s $3.6 billion budget deficit without raising taxes. During his tenure in office, Walker has taken on public-sector labor unions, signing a bill to limit public employee collective bargaining and winning a recall election over the issue.

Lynne Patton, The Eric Trump Foundation

Lynne Patton is Vice President of The Eric Trump Foundation and Senior Assistant to Eric Trump, Ivanka Trump, and Donald Trump, Jr. As VP, Lynne works in tandem with the Executive Director/President of the Foundation to oversee all operations, volunteers, events, outreach, social media, vendors, and corporate partnerships. She assists with the planning of all major fundraising events for the Foundation. She also works to identify and develop viable partnerships and research projects for the Foundation in conjunction with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-Florida)

U.S. Senator Marco Rubio was a candidate in the 2016 Republican presidential primary. The son of Cuban immigrants who came to America in 1956, Rubio has spent most of his life in West Miami, Florida, leaving only for a six-year period when his parents moved their family to Las Vegas, Nevada. In 2010, Rubio ran for the U.S. Senate. During his term, he has championed efforts to restore the American Dream: Social Security and Medicare reform, greater access to affordable higher education, the revitalization of America’s military, efforts to grow the economy, and the empowerment of states and their citizens in the fight against poverty.

U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas)

U.S. Senator Ted Cruz, a candidate in the 2016 Republican presidential primary, won election to the United States Senate in 2012, where he represents the state of Texas. During his tenure in office, Cruz has led the fight to repeal Obamacare, to stop President Obama’s executive amnesty, and to defend life, marriage, and the U.S. Constitution.

Eric Trump, Executive Vice President of The Trump Organization

Eric Trump currently serves as the Executive Vice President of Development and Acquisitions for The Trump Organization. Alongside his father, Donald Trump, Eric works on new project acquisition, development and construction around the world. He has also spearheaded the rapid growth of the Trump Golf Collection. Eric attended Georgetown University where he earned a degree in finance and management. In 2006, he founded the Eric Trump Foundation to help raise money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Newt & Callista Gingrich, Former Speaker of the House and his wife

A candidate for the Republican presidential nomination in 2012, Newt Gingrich is best known as the architect of the Contract with America, the document that led the Republican Party to victory in 1994 by capturing the majority in the U.S. House of Representatives for the first time in 40 years. Callista Gingrich is the president of Gingrich Productions, a multimedia production company based in Washington, D.C. She and her husband host and produce historical and public policy documentaries.

Indiana Governor Mike Pence, Presumptive candidate for Vice President

Mike Pence was elected the 50th Governor of the State of Indiana in 2012. Since taking office, Pence has achieved the largest state tax cut in Indiana history while also lowering the business personal property tax and corporate income tax to attract new investment and bring more jobs to Indiana. He is the presumptive candidate for Vice President for Donald Trump.

Thursday: Make America One Again

America faces serious challenges at home and threats from abroad. In order to turn our challenges into opportunities and keep America secure, we need leadership that will focus on what unites us, not what divides us. Donald Trump will move our country beyond the divisive identity politics that have been holding us back by restoring leadership, building trust, and focusing on our shared love of country and our common goal of making America great again..

Primetime Program, 7:30 P.M.

Brock Mealer, Motivational Speaker

Brock Mealer is a walking miracle. After suffering a spinal cord injury on Christmas Eve of 2007, he was told he had a one percent chance he would ever walk again. Mealer’s story struck the hearts of millions of Americans. He sustained his injury in a car crash just five minutes away from his home. While his brother, an offensive lineman headed to the University of Michigan to play football, was able to free Brock from the wreckage, the two brothers lost their father, David, and Elliot’s girlfriend, Hollis Richer, in the crash. Today, Brock has conquered the odds and is able to walk again. He now shares his story with many, inspiring those he meets to join the one percent.

U.S Representative Marsha Blackburn (TN-7)

Rep. Marsha Blackburn was first elected to Congress from the 7th Congressional District of Tennessee in 2002. As a small business woman, author, mother, grandmother and Member of Congress, she has dedicated her service to making America a more prosperous place to live. No stranger to adversity and hard work, Marsha went to college on a 4-H scholarship and worked her way through school selling books for the Southwestern Company. She was one of their first female sales associates and one of their first female sales managers, assisting the company in establishing a division focused on women.

Governor Mary Fallin, Governor of Oklahoma

Mary Fallin is the current Governor of Oklahoma. The first woman elected to the job, Fallin earned the position through years of service to the people and the state of Oklahoma. Fallin started her career in politics serving two terms as a state representative. She then went on to serve as Lieutenant Governor, Congresswoman from the 5th District, and finally as Governor. Her tenure is also marked by the work she did when serving as the chairman of the National Governors Association, where she led a nationwide initiative to help better align education with the needs of a modern day workforce.

Dr. Lisa Shin, National Diversity Coalition for Trump

Dr. Lisa Shin, OD, is the owner of Los Alamos Family Eyecare, P.C. in Los Alamos, New Mexico. She is known and trusted as an authority on eye care and vision protection. Dr. Shin is a vocal supporter of Donald Trump. As a member of the National Diversity Coalition for Trump as well as a Trump delegate to the Republican National Convention, she has worked to support Donald Trump’s candidacy from New Mexico all the way to Cleveland, Ohio.

Reince Priebus, RNC Chairman

Reince Priebus’ three terms make him the longest-serving chairman in modern history. During his first term as chairman, Priebus oversaw a dramatic turnaround of the RNC, rescuing its finances, rebuilding the operations, and implementing the best ground game effort the committee had ever organized. Priebus dedicated his second term to taking the party’s message of freedom and economic opportunity to all states and all communities. By welcoming new voices and voters and harnessing the power of new technology, he led the RNC in building the infrastructure needed for a landslide GOP victory in the midterm elections. Now in his third term, Priebus is working to deliver victories in races across the country in the 2016 campaign.

Jerry Falwell, Jr., President of Liberty University and evangelical leader

Jerry Falwell, Jr. is currently serving as the President of Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia, appointed in 2007 after the death of his father, Jerry Falwell, Sr. Falwell attended Liberty University himself after which he earned his J.D. from the University of Virginia Law School. During his career he has worked in private practice and served as General Counsel for his father’s entities. Falwell is an evangelical leader and a proven Republican who stands up for America’s faith and liberties.

Peter Thiel, Venture Capitalist

As a venture capitalist and entrepreneur, he has been involved in some of the most dynamic companies to emerge from Silicon Valley over the past two decades. In 1998, Thiel made e-commerce easier, faster, and more secure by co-founding PayPal, defining a new era of fast and secure online commerce. He was the first outside investor and director at Facebook, and also launched Palantir Technologies, where he serves as chairman of the board of directors. Peter established and funds the Thiel Foundation, which promotes freedom in all its forms while working to advance technological progress and long-term thinking about the future.

Tom Barrack, CEO of Colony Capital

Tom Barrack is a real estate investor and the Founder and Executive Chairman of Colony Capital. Prior to starting his own business, Barrack served in the Reagan administration as Deputy Undersecretary of the Department of the Interior. Barrack and Donald Trump have worked together on many real estate deals during their time in business. They have developed a mutual admiration and respect, leading Barrack to support Trump’s bid to be President of the United States.

Ivanka Trump, Daughter of Donald Trump and EVP at the Trump Organization

Ivanka Trump is a real estate executive, entrepreneur, wife and mother. As Executive Vice President of Acquisitions and Development at the Trump Organization, she is leading some of the company’s most high-profile deals, including the $200-million conversion of the historic Old Post Office in Washington, DC into a luxury hotel and the $250-million renovation of the iconic Doral Golf Resort in Miami. Ivanka is also the founder of the fashion line Ivanka Trump Collection.

Donald J. Trump, Republican presumptive candidate for President of the United States


Buffalo Wild Wings near UA campus changes names because of court battle; restaurant now named Gridiron

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Passers-by may have noticed that a longtime restaurant across from the University of Akron campus no longer has a Buffalo Wild Wings sign.

Instead, a new sign says “Gridiron.”

The popular wings restaurant and bar — also referred to by its old nickname, BW-3 — hasn’t been sold. The owners changed the name because of a court battle with the corporate Buffalo Wild Wings.

The Bord family that has owned the Akron restaurant for 25 years closed it June 20, removed all of the Buffalo Wild Wings logos and merchandise, performed about $100,000 in renovations and reopened a week later with a new name and menu.

Those who frequent Gridiron on Exchange, located in a prime spot on Exchange Street across from UA’s InfoCision football stadium, can still get wings, along with other fare like burgers, salads, hot dogs and wraps.

“We want to encourage people to come in and give us a try,” said Christine Bord-Ferris, whose late father, his two brothers and sister own the Akron restaurant. “Give us a chance.”

Kevin Bord, Christine’s brother, suggested that the family open a BW-3 after falling in love with the restaurant while attending Ohio State University. At the time, BW-3 restaurants, which now dot the globe, were mainly on campuses. (BW-3 stood for Buffalo Wild Wings & Weck; the company notes on its website that it dropped “Weck” from its name in 1998.)

The Bord family formed BW-3 Akron and obtained a license from the corporate owner to open a restaurant on the UA campus in 1991. They chose the site of the former Armadillo bar and restaurant.

A licensing agreement gave the family the right to operate new BW-3 restaurants in Summit County and the right of first refusal for any new locations in Medina, Stark, Portage and Mahoning counties.

David Bertsch, the Bord family’s attorney, said the family got an offer in 2013 to buy the restaurant, property and licensing rights for $1 million and reached out to Buffalo Wild Wings to see if it would be interested in the purchase.

Company officials were interested, but the talks fell through in the spring of 2014 when the Bord family asserted its right to be compensated for Buffalo Wild Wings restaurants opened in surrounding counties, a claim the company disputed.

The Bords filed a lawsuit in Summit County Common Pleas Court in June 2014, claiming Buffalo Wild Wings had breached the licensing agreement by opening new restaurants and not giving the family the right of first refusal.

Buffalo Wild Wings sued BW-3 Akron in U.S. District Court in May, seeking a termination of the licensing agreement because the restaurant had refused to invest more than $300,000 to update the “stadia” design being used in the corporation’s new and renovated locations. The suit claimed the restaurant was violating the federal Lantham Act that governs trademarks and unfair competition and sought treble damages — three times the amount of compensatory or actual damages — and attorney fees.

Both lawsuits are still pending.

With the threat of damages of this magnitude, the Bord family decided to close and reopen with a new name, look and menu.

“They put the squeeze on us and forced us to shut down,” Bertsch said.

Besides removing all the Buffalo Wild Wings items and putting them in storage, the other updates included steam cleaning, painting the walls a darker blue, and adding new chairs, booths and UA sports memorabilia. The family found a new food vendor and developed a basic menu that later may be expanded.

The Bords, who also own real-estate and moving companies in Akron, think Buffalo Wild Wings is trying to get out of the licensing agreement and wants to expand to Summit and surrounding counties.

“They’re trying to get this territory for free,” Bertsch said.

Bord-Ferris said her family is the “little guy,” while Buffalo Wild Wings is the “big guy.”

John Fairweather, an Akron attorney for the Minnesota-based Buffalo Wild Wings, and Kerry Bundy, a Minneapolis attorney for the company didn’t return phone messages seeking comment.

Buffalo Wild Wings spokeswoman Heather Leiferman said the company doesn’t comment on pending litigation.

Gridiron’s business has so far been slow, which manager Steve Henderson and the owners attribute to the summer and the name change. They hope it will increase when school starts again next month and football season begins.

Jason Williams, who works at FirstEnergy, made his second trip to Gridiron last week. He said he misses it being a Buffalo Wild Wings, but prefers the new lower prices.

“I’m back today, so it obviously wasn’t terrible,” he said, chuckling.

Stephanie Warsmith can be reached at 330-996-3705, swarsmith@thebeaconjournal.com and on Twitter: @swarsmithabj.

Last call at the Hard Rock Cafe — Tower City location to close after the RNC

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The celebrated giant Hard Rock guitar will take its final riffs in Cleveland this week as the Tower City location is set to close when the RNC packs up and leaves town.

The Hard Rock Cafe has been a popular haunt for rock and roll fans since its opening in 1998 inside of Tower City.

The restaurant overlooking the Flats with an entrance off West Huron Road says the closing “marks a strategic decision on behalf of the brand to focus efforts in the market on Hard Rock Cafe at Northfield Park and Hard Rock Rocksino” in Summit County.

The brand’s Northfield Park location opened in 2013 and marked the Hard Rock International’s first-ever Rocksino gaming property.

The horse track combined casino at Hard Rock Rocksino Northfield Park in Northfield is also home to a Hard Rock Cafe.

The company says employees who will lose their jobs after the Cleveland location closes after this week “will be given priority consideration for open positions at the Northfield Park cafe and Rocksino gaming property.”

The Northfield location also features a Hard Rock-logo concert stage and a comedy club.

Craig Webb can be reached at cwebb@thebeaconjournal.com or 330-996-3547.

Akron plans to tear down Morley Health Center, build new courthouse in its place

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Akron plans to tear down the former Morley Health Center downtown and erect a new courthouse for Akron Municipal Court in its place.

City Council is expected to talk about the proposed $21 million project Monday afternoon.

The site is on South Broadway Street across the street from the Summit County Courthouse.

The project would be paid for through court fees, according to legislation submitted to the council.

Municipal Court judges and officials have complained for years about their current cramped space inside the Harold K. Stubbs Justice Center on South High Street.

The Morley Health Center once housed the city health department. Summit County Public Health absorbed the city operation several years ago.

Summit County Public Health then consolidated its operations in late 2014 in the Fairway Center office building off West Market Street in West Akron.

Check back on Ohio.com for updates from the meeting.

Rick Armon can be reached at 330-996-3569 or rarmon@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter at @armonrickABJ.

RNC 2016: Melania Trump draws interest before speech

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CLEVELAND: The Latest on the Republican National Convention in Cleveland (EDT):

12:12 p.m.

Melania Trump is drawing lots of online interest ahead of her prime time speech at the Republican National Convention.

The wife of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump on Monday morning was the most widely searched of the convention’s GOP speakers among Google users.

Google Trends says actor Scott Baio and David A. Clarke Jr., the sheriff in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, also are drawing wide interest.

Baio is a veteran actor who has starred the shows “Charles In Charge,” ‘’Joanie Loves Chachi” and “Happy Days.” Clarke, who is African-American, has spoken out against the Black Lives Matter movement and blames its supporters for inflaming racial tensions.

Meanwhile, the top searched political issues on Monday were “police,” “race issues” and “ISIS.”

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12:06 p.m.

Newt Gingrich says last-ditch efforts by conservative delegates to block Donald Trump’s nomination at the Republican National Convention are “silly” and should stop.

Gingrich is among those that Trump considered to become his running mate and is the former House speaker.

Some outnumbered delegates are trying to force the GOP to make rules changes that would include letting delegates back any presidential candidate they’d like and weaken the power of Republican Party leaders.

The Georgia Republican says of that effort, “It’s silly. Trump carried 37 states. He’s going to be the nominee.”

Gingrich spoke to a reporter outside the convention center as delegates filed into the Quicken Loans Arena for Monday’s start of the convention.

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11:55 a.m.

Wisconsin’s Paul Ryan cheers for the Pittsburgh Steelers?

The speaker of the House is a die-hard Green Bay Packers fan and part owner of the publicly-owned team. But at a breakfast appearance before the Pennsylvania delegation Monday, Ryan was not afraid to pander to his audience, including dozens of ardent Pittsburgh Steelers fans.

“I want to win this election so darn badly that I am willing to do this!” Ryan shouted as he waved a yellow-and-black “Terrible Towel” waved by Steelers fans at NFL games. The crowd cheered wildly.

Ryan said he was relieved that the towels no longer are made in Wisconsin, as they were when he campaigned in Pittsburgh as the GOP’s vice presidential nominee in 2012.

———

11:49 a.m.

Republicans are delicately thinking of the 2020 presidential campaign before Donald Trump even accepts the 2016 GOP presidential nomination in Cleveland.

Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton didn’t speak of the next presidential campaign during an address to about 100 Republican activists at a downtown convention center as the GOP convention opened. But some delegates present said they heard a potential 2020 candidate speaking.

Jane Page of Aiken, South Carolina, said the group is “really good at identifying candidates four, even six years out,” and added that Cotton, a freshman senator, is “impressive.”

Cotton, a 37-year-old former U.S. House member and combat veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan, railed on Democratic President Barack Obama’s national security policies, and touted a more aggressive military policy.

———

11:23 a.m.

Minnesota Republicans are backing a last-ditch effort that could hinder business mogul Donald Trump’s nomination for the president.

Republicans prepared to start their convention Monday, with an expected vote in the afternoon on the rules that will govern the week. Insurgent delegates have circulated a petition to force a state-by-state vote as part of their bid to deny Trump the nomination.

Minnesota delegate Matt Pagano confirmed a majority of the state’s 38 delegates supported a roll call vote. A majority of delegates from seven states must back the effort to force a roll call vote.

Minnesota handed Trump one of his worst finishes in an otherwise strong primary season performance this winter. Florida Sen. Marco Rubio won the state, and Trump finished third with 8 delegates.

———

10:58 a.m.

Donald Trump’s campaign chief says the Bush family “is part of the past” and that they don’t reflect the current Republican Party.

The answer came in response to a question about former Presidents George H.W. Bush and President George W. Bush decisions not to attend this week’s Republican National Convention.

Campaign chairman Paul Manafort told reporters on Monday that the campaign’s primary goal at the national convention this week was to unify the Republican Party, but he had harsh words for the members of Republican political royalty.

Manafort said, “Certainly the Bush family, we would have liked to have had them. They’re part of the past. We’re dealing with the future.”

Manafort described nominating conventions as “a healing time,” adding that by the end of the week, “by and large, it’s going to be a united Republican Party.”

———

10:53 a.m.

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker says he won’t run for president again as a sitting governor, like he did last year.

Walker told The Associated Press in a telephone interview Monday from the Republican National Convention in Cleveland that if he runs for re-election in 2018 and wins, he would serve a four-year term. That would seem to preclude a second presidential run in 2020.

He says, “If I run again in 2018, it would be to serve a full term and not to run for another office.”

But Walker has stoked talk of him laying the groundwork for a future presidential run by meeting in Cleveland with delegates from early presidential voting states. He attended a breakfast with the Iowa delegation on Monday.

———

10:39 a.m.

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker says “fears and concerns” about Democrat Hillary Clinton “are the most compelling things” that will unite Republicans behind Donald Trump.

Walker told The Associated Press in a telephone interview Monday from Cleveland that a central theme of his speech at the Republican National Convention there on Wednesday night will be that “America deserves better” than Clinton.

Walker has been a reluctant supporter of Trump, having urged his defeat after dropping out of the presidential race in September and endorsing Texas Sen. Ted Cruz in Wisconsin’s primary. Walker says Monday that his concerns about Trump have been gradually easing.

He says he is “thrilled” with Trump’s selection of Indiana Gov. Mike Pence as his running mate. Walker says that shows Trump is serious about governing.

———

10:29 a.m.

Donald Trump’s campaign chair says he has “close to 20” states on his list of competitive general election battlegrounds.

Paul Manafort says that includes such states as Connecticut and Oregon, which he says are coming into play. Both states have voted for Democrats going back at least six elections.

Manafort says Trump has five or six pathways to getting the 270 Electoral College votes needed to win the presidency. He also mentioned states including Wisconsin, Iowa, Nevada and Virginia.

Trump has previously said he’s interested in flipping states like New York that have long been Democratic strongholds. However, Manafort says New York is not on his target list.

Manafort spoke at a Bloomberg breakfast.

———

10:22 a.m.

Donald Trump’s campaign manager says the celebrity businessman will speak at the Republican National Convention Monday night to introduce his wife, Melania.

Paul Manafort said in a news conference that Trump and his wife would fly to Cleveland in the hours before Melania’s speech at the convention.

The GOP presidential nominee-in-waiting will introduce his wife onstage, Manafort said. Trump said earlier in the day on “Fox & Friends” that his wife will speak about her “love of the country” as an immigrant from Slovenia.

Melania Trump will be the first of several members of the candidate’s family who will speak at the convention to “paint a picture” of Trump’s character beyond what America “saw during the primaries,” Manafort said.

The couple will then return to New York.

Trump is slated to return to Cleveland on Wednesday. His acceptance speech is scheduled for Thursday.

———

9:41 a.m.

Paul Ryan is ignoring Donald Trump and focusing on the House GOP agenda as he opens his visit to the Republican convention in Cleveland.

The House speaker used an appearance at his home-state Wisconsin delegation breakfast Monday to talk about a six-plank “better way” agenda he’s rolled out in Congress.

It deals with poverty, national security, health care and other issues. Ryan says the agenda is about “giving people a choice” in the election.

But the speaker made no mention of Trump as he spoke for more than 10 minutes. Ryan hesitated for weeks before endorsing the businessman.

Ryan will deliver a speech to the convention on Tuesday.

———

9:25 a.m.

Republican Donald Trump is suggesting the man who killed two police officers and a sheriff’s deputy in Baton Rouge on Sunday had connections with “radical Islam,” despite early indications he had no known ties to any extremist groups.

In a phone interview with “Fox & Friends” Monday, Trump said former Marine Gavin Eugene Long “seems to be a member of that group also. It seems to be something going on there.”

A host interjected, saying the man belonged instead to the Nation of Islam.

Trump responded: “He is bad people ... no question about it.”

It’s unclear whether Long was a member of either group.

Trump also appeared to blame people who knew the gunman for failing to turn him in, saying it was clear he “had a lot of hate.”

The attack comes less than two weeks after Alton Sterling, a black man, was fatally shot by police in the city.

———

9:19 a.m.

Democrats are offering plenty of counter-programming this week while Republican leaders gather in Cleveland to nominate Donald Trump for president during the party’s widely televised convention.

Hillary Clinton’s campaign is spending about $1 million on TV ads in Ohio this week, according to Kantar Media’s campaign advertising tracker. The commercials promote her as an experienced leader and portray Trump as divisive and dangerous.

Her campaign also put out a new digital ad Monday called “Confessions of a Republican.” In that spot, actor and longtime Republican Bill Bogert says of Trump, “This man scares me.” He adds: “I think the party is about to make a terrible mistake in Cleveland.”

Meanwhile, pro-Clinton ads await Cleveland area taxicab passengers. An in-cab ad by Priorities USA features people wearing Trump T-shirts while mouthing some of his quotes about women, including the line, “I view a person who is flat-chested as very hard to be a 10.”

———

8:40 a.m.

Donald Trump’s campaign manager says Ohio Sen. Rob Portman is “upset” with Gov. John Kasich and believes the governor is hurting his re-election campaign.

Paul Manafort says the Trump and Portman campaigns are working “very closely” together. He also says the senator believes Trump is helping his re-election prospects.

Kasich has not endorsed Trump since ending his own presidential campaign and is not attending the GOP convention in Cleveland.

Manafort spoke at a Bloomberg breakfast, repeating an earlier comment in which he said Kasich is, “embarrassing” Ohio.

———

8:35 a.m.

A petition is circulating seeking a roll call vote on the rules package at the Republican national convention, signaling perhaps a last call by those wishing to derail Donald Trump from accepting the party’s nomination later this week in Cleveland.

The petition obtained Monday morning by The Associated Press asks delegates to sign if they support holding a roll call vote among delegates to give approval of rules proposals.

Paul Manafort, Trump’s campaign chairman, said on NBC’s “Today” show that he thinks very few delegates in the convention hall are anti-Trump. He added that those who are were elected to support other, failed GOP presidential candidates “and their passion hasn’t left them yet.”

The convention will vote on the rules Monday, an event seen as a last chance from for dissenters to derail Trump or at least disrupt the process of his acceptance of the nomination.

South Carolina delegate Bill Pickle also says some are calling for an emergency vote to pull the leadership from party Chairman Reince Priebus and elect a new chair.

———

8:06 a.m.

Donald Trump’s campaign chairman says Ohio Gov. John Kasich is making a “big mistake” by skipping the Republican National Convention that kicks off in Cleveland on Monday.

Paul Manafort says in an interview on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” that Kasich is “hurting his state, he’s embarrassing his state, frankly” by skipping the four-day event convened to nominate Trump for president.

Kasich is one of a number of prominent Republicans who won’t be attending. They include former presidents George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush, and the party’s two most recent presidential nominees, John McCain and Mitt Romney. An unusually high number of GOP senators and House members are skipping the event, too.

But Manafort insists the number of holdouts has been overstated. He says, “most of the Republicans who aren’t coming are people who have been part of the past.”

RNC 2016 live updates: Akron church holds prayers for peace

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After all of the preparation and anticipation, the Republican National convention is finally starting in Cleveland Monday.

The Beacon Journal has reporters and photographers in and around Cleveland to report on what’s happening. This story will be updated throughout the day, so check back often to find out the latest.

1 p.m.

Peace prayers

Two men rang the buzzer at the large wooden door that marks the entrance to the convent chapel at Our Lady of the Elms in Akron.

“Welcome,” Sister Dorothy says as she steps aside to let them in.

The men joined another 10 people in prayer.

People can pray at the chapel this way every day — regular mass is said at 5 p.m. daily. But, on Monday, the nuns put out a special call for prayers for peace.

“There’s such negativism and such gun play going on everywhere that we worry about what might happen” at the RNC in Cleveland, said Sister Bernadine. “Even peaceful marches can take a wrong turn.”

Gene Waples, 83, made the trip up from Uniontown.

“I thought it was beautiful,” Waples said of the idea of the community prayer. “With all this trouble we’re having in the trouble, I wish they’d just get that settled.”

Sister Bernadine said as far as she knew, all of the churches in the West Akron neighborhood were open for the same purpose.

— Paula Schleis

12:15 p.m.

Muslim girl speaks

She’s got a contagious smile, sporting braces like many of her peers, and has spent half of her 17 years of life in America.

But Sondos Mishal of Stow said her daily life is different than her friends in one significant way: As a Muslim, she has to constantly be aware of her surroundings, she worries about being in parking lots alone, and when she leaves a cafe in the evening after a study session, her personal safety is “always in the back of my mind — that someone could be coming for me.”

On Monday, Mishal was the first of several Akron area residents scheduled to speak to media in Cleveland this week, an effort organized by Summit County Progressive Democrats.

“I want people to understand that Muslims are just ordinary citizens and how Trump’s views are affecting other people. He’s legitimizing other people’s attitudes about Muslims and that’s affecting their daily lives,” said Sondos, who attends Akron Early College High School. “The attitude always existed but it wasn’t as strong as before because there’s a presidential candidate that’s strong in his views about this.”

Sondos’ family immigrated to the United States for Palestine nine years ago.

Asked if a president could make a difference in that attitude, Sondos said: “I personally would feel less safe if Trump was president.”

The local Democratic organization will be introducing other activists to media in a conference room off Public Square.

Tuesday, they will present two female Ohio state legislators who say it’s harder to fight for women’s rights in a Republican-led state legislature, and a teacher and union official who will speak out against charter schools.

On Wednesday, SCPD will offer to media an attorney, state legislator and a homeless advocate who have been fighting attempts to suppress some voters, and a family physician who became an environmental activist after seeing the impact of poor environmental regulation on the health of his patients.

In addition to meeting Mishal on Monday, media were invited to interview Robert Grow, a minister who has led pro-gun control demonstrations during gun shows at the Summit County Fairgrounds.

“I am a chaplain who in a five-year span of my career... has had to minister to seven families whose children were killed with guns,” he said. “And that’s the reason I took up this cause.”

Noon

‘Hillary for Prison’ Ts

Hundreds of people are attending a pro-Donald Trump rally at Settler’s Landing, a park in downtown Cleveland.

The rallygoers wearing ‘Hillary for Prison’ T-shirts outnumber those sporting ‘Trump for President’ T-shirts in the crowd that is almost entirely white, a sharp contrast to the anti-Trump march and rally Sunday evening that was racially diverse.

An event organizer asked a woman to hold a Trump sign. She accepted, adding, “I love my country!”

“Me too ma’am,” the organizer said.

— Nick Glunt

11:15 a.m.

What convention?

Five people from Germany stopped by the Destination Cleveland Visitors Center Sunday with no idea that the convention was happening this week, according to a briefing Monday morning from the convention’s host committee.

Volunteers at the visitor’s center suggested the Germans visit attractions in the neighborhoods, such as the West Side Market, and perhaps the Cleveland Museum of Art, in case the downtown scene was too crowded for them.

A man named Grover Cleveland also stopped by the visitors center. To prove he has the same name as the 22nd/24th U.S. president, he showed his driver’s license to volunteers.

In all, 130 people visited the visitor’s center Sunday, according to the briefing.

— Stephanie Warsmith

10:30 a.m.

Hospital prepared

Akron City Hospital is prepared in the event of a disaster during the convention this week that requires people to be transported to the hospital.

In case this happens, the hospital issued a press release Monday morning with instructions for where media should park, assemble and gather to receive updates.

— Stephanie Warsmith

9:30 a.m.

Delegate breakfast

The first Ohio delegation breakfast honored late former Ohio Republican Chairman Bob Bennett, with a portrait of Bennett greeting delegates at the door.

Joe Hockey, the U.S. ambassador to Australia, spoke during the breakfast about the draw of American ideas.

“America is great,” he said.

Hockey got a standing ovation when he asked the Ohio delegates to affirm democracy, free trade and immigration.

The media were asked to leave while the delegates were briefed on security issues during the convention.

— Doug Livingston

Hudson florist

While newly arrived delegates were still eating breakfast Monday morning, area florists were turning the Q into a warm and welcoming greenspace.

At 8 a.m. Monday morning, a refrigerated truck filled with flowers and foliage left The Greenhouse Florist in Hudson headed for Cleveland.

It was one of six florists in Northeast Ohio chosen to offer services to convention-goers, a designation earned after a special vendor day that allowed delegations, organizations and others to narrow down the businesses offering services this week.

“There was no guarantee we’d even get orders, though it was an honor just being selected as one of the six,” manager Jean Considine said. The Greenhouse Florist has been in business for 41 years, that last 21 under owner Gregg Lauck.

But the orders came: Arrangements for the chairman’s suite, the chief of staff’s suite, the Republican Governors Association lounge, the backstage waiting room, U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell’s suite, even a bathroom.

Employees spent the better part of Sunday preparing the arrangements, which ranged from 7-foot palms to 3x3 cubes of greenery.

While arrangements ordered for back stage have a red-white-and-blue theme, Considine said most of her clients at the convention preferred the “clean and crisp look” of green and white — white and green hydrangeas, white roses, dianthus, lisianthus, willow branches and aurelia leaves.

— Paula Schleis

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