Geneva: House explosion sends 3 to hospital

GENEVA, Ohio -- Three people were hospitalized Wednesday morning after their house exploded in Geneva.

The explosion was reported at about 2:36 a.m. on South Cedar Road near Beach Street.

Gas has been shut off to the home along with another house across the street. 

The three people living in the home were taken to an area hospital with various burns. Their conditions are not available.

The fire department and gas company are investigating what may have caused the blast. The State Fire Marshal is on scene to assist in the investigation.

Following the explosion, fire crews extinguished a small fire that started near a utility room.

Fire crews also rescued two cats from the home.

WKYC-TV

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Hyundai-Kia recalling nearly 1.9 million vehicles

DETROIT -- Korean automakers Hyundai and Kia are recalling almost 1.9 million vehicles to fix problems with air bags and brake light switches.

The brake light recall covers the Hyundai Accent, Elantra, Genesis Coupe, Santa Fe, Sonata, Tucson and Veracruz. Also affected are Kia's Optima, Rondo, Sedona, Sorento, Soul and Sportage. The vehicles are from the 2007 through 2011 model years.

U.S. safety regulators say a faulty switch can stop the brake lights from illuminating when drivers press the pedal. Also, the cruise control may not turn off when a driver steps on the brake.

The automakers will notify owners and replace the switches for free starting in June.

Hyundai also is recalling the 2011 through 2013 Elantra. A bracket can come loose when the side air bag inflates and can injure people.

The Associated Press

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Strongsville teachers, board members meet with federal mediator

INDEPENDENCE -- Members of the Strongsville teachers union and the school board are scheduled to meet this morning with a federal mediator in Independence.

The two sides are trying to resolve a strike that began on March 4.

The meeting with the mediator comes one day after the teachers offered to return to the classroom if the board would agree to binding arbitration. That would allow both sides to choose an agreed upon arbitrator who would resolve the issues keeping the sides apart after the end of the school year.

The board rejected the union's offer.

WKYC-TV

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Per-capita income on the rise in Ohio

DAYTON, Ohio -- More good news for the Ohio economy: The state's per-capita income rose at one of the fastest rates in the nation last year.

That's according to an analysis by The Dayton Daily News, which says the statistic is a sign that the state's economy is recovering more quickly than that most of the country.

Per-capita personal income includes all earnings such as wages, dividends, interest income and rents. In Ohio, it rose by 1.7 percent to $39,289 between 2011 and 2012. That was a larger increase than all but two other states.

Experts say incomes in Ohio continue to benefit from the revival of the manufacturing industry and the emergence of the oil and gas sector. But, they say, future prosperity depends on diversifying Ohio's industrial base.

The Associated Press

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Cleveland Weather: Still flakey & frigid

Once again, we start Tuesday off with scattered snow flurries, mainly to the east.  Otherwise, Partly Sunny & Chilly.  High: 37 in the city, near 40 away from the lake.  Wind: West 10-15 mph.

Mostly Cloudy & Cold Tuesday night with a few Flurries.  Low: 26.  Wind: NW 10-15 mph.

After a few Wednesday morning Flurries, High Pressure moves overhead, the winds gradually shift to the southwest & drier air moves overhead.  High: 39.  Wind: SW 5-10 mph.

Clearing but still Cold Wednesday night.  Low: 27.  Wind: SW 5-10 mph.

Thursday will be Mostly Sunny & Milder.  High: 53.  Wind: SW 5-10 mph.

Friday, a weak Front slices across the area with a few more clouds, slightly cooler air, but little, if any moisture.  It will be Partly Sunny.  High: 47.

Saturday will be Partly Cloudy & seasonable.  High: 52.

Sunday, another Front slides into the region giving us a Mostly Cloudy day with a few Rain Showers.  High: 56.

The question for Monday, the Tribe's Home Opener vs. the Yankees, is will that Front slide south & take the rain with it, or will it hang around the region & scatterer a few showers. 

 Right now, will go with Mostly Cloudy & a few widely scattered showers.  High: 54.

Stay tuned for further refinements to the Opening Day Forecast as we get closer to Monday.

WKYC-TV

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Investigator: MetroHealth sued by ex-nurse who reported abuse

CLEVELAND -- Annie O'Malley-Donegan worked as a nurse for MetroHealth's Prentiss Center nursing home for eight years.

She is now suing her former employer because she says she was fired for reporting alleged abuse of a 90-year-old resident.

"I did what I was supposed to do," said O'Malley-Donegan. 

She is also suing MetroHealth for failing to provide safeguards against a deadly bacteria that is resistant to most antibiotics.

Administrator Tina Szatla is named as a defendant in the lawsuit, along with the MetroHealth Elisabeth Severance Prentiss Center nursing home.

MetroHealth declined comment on the lawsuit. A hospital spokesman says the hospital doesn't discuss pending litigation.

O'Malley-Donegan says MetroHealth retaliated against her for reporting abuse and feels she's protected under Ohio's whistleblower law.

She says the hospital doesn't want any additional bad publicity, citing the abuse Channel 3 News Investigator Tom Meyer uncovered in 2011. 

Eight nurses aides were disciplined and two went to jail after hidden cameras caught them abusing an elderly woman suffering from Alzheimer's.

WKYC-TV

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Detroit airport terminal reopened after evacuation

ROMULUS, Mich.  --  Authorities evacuated part of the smaller of two terminals at Detroit Metropolitan Airport for about two hours as a bomb squad responded to a suspicious item at a security checkpoint.

Airport spokesman Mike Conway says the check-in lobby at the airport's North Terminal in Romulus was shut down about 6:15 a.m. Monday. Conway says a bomb squad responded to inspect the item that was in an X-ray machine at a security checkpoint.

A squad pulled away from the terminal about 8 a.m. and travelers were allowed to return to the terminal shortly afterward.

Hundreds of people were earlier seen walking away from the terminal along a sidewalk, many pulling or carrying luggage.

The Associated Press

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NKorea's parliament meets amid nuclear tension

YOSHIKAZU TSUNO/AFP/Getty Images

SEOUL, South Korea  --  North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has gathered legislators for an annual spring parliamentary session.

Today's meeting of the Supreme People's Assembly comes a day after a declaration by Kim and top party officials that nuclear bomb building and a stronger economy are the nation's top priorities.

Today's gathering also follows near-daily threats from Pyongyang, including promises of nuclear strikes on South Korea and the U.S.

Meanwhile, the United States has sent F-22 stealth fighter jets to participate in annual war games with South Korea, and the new South Korean president has told her top military leaders to set aside political considerations and respond strongly should North Korea attack.

Analysts see a full-scale North Korean attack as unlikely and say the threats are more likely efforts to provoke softer policies toward Pyongyang from a new government in Seoul, to win diplomatic talks with Washington and to solidify the young North Korean leader's military credentials at home.

The Associated Press

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Cleveland Weather: Colder... no foolin'!

The Cold Front has moved through the region, and with the cold air following, we'll see scattered snow showers, mainly in the Snowbelt.   We've already hit our High for the day of 48.  We'll have Partly Sunny skies, with an afternoon High of 37.  Wind: NW 15-20, gusts-30 mph.

Monday night will be Mostly Cloudy, Windy & Colder.  Snow showers possible over the Snowbelt.  Low: 27.  Wind: NW 15-20 mph.

Tuesday will be Partly Sunny for most areas, scattered snow showers over the Snowbelt.  Windy & Cold.  High: 36.  Wind: West 10-15 mph.

Partly Cloudy & continued cold Tuesday night.  Low: 25.  Wind: NW 10-15 mph.

Wednesday will be Partly Cloudy, drier, but still Chilly.  High: 39.  Wind: NW 5-10 mph.

We'll start to see temperatures moderate for the 2nd half of the week.

Thursday will be Partly Cloudy & Milder.  High: 50.

Friday will be Partly Sunny.  High: 48.

Saturday will be Partly Cloudy.  High: 53.

Sunday, another Cold Front means cloudy skies with scattered rain showers.  High: 52.

WKYC-TV

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Neighborhood mourns victims of Bedford crash

MAPLE HEIGHTS -- Sorrow hangs over Watson Road in Maple Heights Saturday night as a street that acted like a family is mourning the loss of one of their own. 

Neighbor Lana Johnson remembered hearing the news, "When I first found out I couldn't believe it, it was so hard. I thought it was a dream, I'm like it can't be real. It's crazy, it hurts so bad...it can't be real. I wish they were still here and I want them to know I love them and they're going to be missed dearly."

Neighbors are still trying to piece together their emotions after hearing that 30-year-old mother Maria Thorpe and two of her daughters were killed in crash in Bedford Friday night.

Maria, who was pregnant with her fifth child, was driving her four daughters back home from her mother's house when police say a 48-year-old Warrensville Heights man driving a pickup truck ran a red light and crashed into them. 

Maria and two of her daughters, 8-year-old Zariah Roberts and 5-year-old Zyanah Roberts, died in the crash. Her 12-year-old daughter was released from the hospital and is staying with her aunt and her 10-year-old remains hospitalized in critical condition.

"They say she's moving her little fingers and she's okay, for now. Words can't even describe what they're going through right now and they're going to be missed," said heartbroken neighbor Alana Johnson.

Before the crash, Maria Thorpe was studying for her high school diploma and picking out baby names that begin with the letter Z. 

Neighbors remember her as family, the lady that welcomed everyone to her pool parties and loved her children more than life itself.

The driver of the other vehicle was taken to an area hospital and then was taken into police custody after being treated. No charges have been filed, but they believe that alcohol may have been a factor.

WKYC-TV

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