The view from the Idea Center

Unlike millions of my fellow Americans, I did not watch Super Bowl LIV last night. I was in bed, knowing I’d have to be up around 3 a.m. for today’s “Morning Edition” duties.

Yes, I showed up for work today, bucking yet another trend. An estimated 17.5 million employees told pollsters they were planning on taking today off or calling in sick. Some think Super Bowl Monday should be a national holiday.

While some folks may be faking illness to stay home after a late night watching football, I know of two Ohioans in particular who are glad to be healthy: the two Miami University students who were tested last week for the coronavirus. Those tests came back negative.

"The students are delighted," said Dr. Amy Acton, director of the Ohio Department of Health. The students spent the week in isolation while awaiting the results.

Here’s one set of results we won’t be watching for in Ohio’s March 17 primary: the ballot initiatives to reduce the size of Cleveland’s City Council and the amount of councilmembers’ pay.

In case you missed it Friday, Clevelanders First, the group that got Issues 3 and 4 on the ballot, said it was withdrawing them, after hearing concerns from African-American community leaders.

"[The ballot initiatives] would cause harm to our city in terms of East and West, black and white and we did not want that," said Rev. E.T. Caviness, a member of the Cleveland Clergy Coalition.

The initiatives will remain on the ballot but any vote, for or against, will not be counted.

Meanwhile, in Iowa, counting gets underway tonight to decide which Democratic candidate in the still-considerable field of contenders will win the caucuses. This year, Iowa Democrats are releasing four different results. This information could come in handy if you’re staying up late again tonight to follow the returns.

See you bright and early tomorrow morning on the radio,
Amy Eddings

Need to KnOH

Headlines from Northeast Ohio and Beyond

• Case Western Reserve University Students Enter Spotlight At CPH
• Black History Month Opens With Tradition In Cleveland
• Governor Issues Three Reprieves Of Execution
• Super Bowl Ads 2020: Strange, Serious, Smaaht, And So Very Expensive
• LIVE: President Trump's Impeachment Trial In The Senate

Your ideas

The Iowa caucuses are today and as Here & Now found, there are still plenty of people who are undecided. In Ohio, we're 43 days out from our own primary. Have you decided yet how you'll vote? Call us at  (216) 916-6476, comment on our Facebook page or join the conversation in Public Square. We'll feature some of your thoughts and comments here in Noon(ish) and on Morning Edition.