The biggest story this day after the election isn’t approval of County government reform or approval of a monopoly casino for a billionaire.

No. The biggest story is about the numerous murdered bodies found in the middle a city neighborhood. In fact, not far from famous Shaker Square in the new 4th ward.

That it could happen with little notice says so much more about Cleveland, its priorities and what it cares about than any election issue. Residents count little in this world.

The question is how does this happen? Why did it happen? Why did it happen so easily? Why did it escape notice so easily? For so long?

Where were the police? Where were health officials? Social workers? Community development personnel? Community activists?

Let’s build a new convention center. Let’s build a new casino. Can we build any new stadiums? Theaters? Fancy restaurants?

Anyone can see reform and casinos don’t answer what really ails Cleveland. You can’t hide it behind glitz or change for the sake of change.

Poverty and its relatives are eating away at the very life of the city. Giving recognition to this is step one.

But we are being sold shoddy goods instead.

The Pee Dee won big yesterday. The newspaper – surely looking for relevance – piggybacked on a vile corruption scourge in County government to change its form. Not its nature.

Police Say Say Sowell Killed at Least 11 People

The Cleveland Police Department and and Cuyahoga County Cornoers Office held a press conference at 4:30 p.m. and have named Tonia Carmichael as one of the eleven victims of the Cleveland serial killer Anthony Sowell who was brought to justice this week. The Police Department upped the number of murders they believe Sowell committed to 11 after they found a skull yesterday in the basement of his home.

Carmichael was a a 53 year old female from Warrensville Height who was reported as missing on November 10th. Cuyahoga Coroner Dr. Frank Miller stated that DNA was used in the identification of Carmichael. Miller added there has been a match of a dental record of another victim but are waiting for DNA to give the name to the public.

Sowell was formally charged with murder and rape today in Cuyahoga County Court. He was denied bond and police will continue looking for evidence against him in the coming days.

On Monday afternoon, two grown men with nicknames met with Cleveland Browns owner Randy Lerner to serve as fan representatives in voicing discontent regarding the current state of the Browns organization. "Dawg Pound Mike" Mike Randall of Massillon and Tony "Mobile [Wheelchair] Dawg" Schafer were equipped with thier best Sunday, um, Bone Hat to meet with the millionaire banking CEO and professional sports team owner, who has come under fire in recent months due to the poor play of his football (not futbol) team.

Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert celebrated two victories today. One was the win by his team the other was a lot greater. Gilbert will now be the owner of two casinos in the Buckeye State, one of them right here in the City of Cleveland.

Gilbert and Mayor Frank Jackson shared the stage today at the victory party of Issue 3. Gilbert told the assembled supporters on the fourth floor of Quicken Loans Arena:

"We're going to deliver something very special."

Jackson, who won a huge re-election victory tonight, told the crowd:

"This is not a panacea, but it's a significant tool for the city of Cleveland. It's one more tool we can use to further the goals and vision of Cleveland."

Here is the audio of the full statements by both the owner of the Cavaliers and the Mayor of Cleveland:

Ohioans will have 4 cities to choose from in the near future if they feel like going to a casino. Buckeye State voters have ended a 20 year string of losses to expand gambling in the state in a hard fought battle. Proponents say that by passing Issue 3 more than 34,000 jobs will be created in Ohio. Issue 3 has gained 53% of the vote to 47% with about 90% vote counted.

The passage of the gambling issue was a long time coming for people who wanted to see casinos in the state for two decades. Each time that a ballot measure would be brought to the electorate, it would fail miserably. What changed? The latest casino plan puts 4 gambling locations in the biggest cities which likely gained support in those urban areas. Another factor is that the economy is so poor in the Buckeye State that many felt that we needed this catalyst to get us out of the doldrums that we have been in. Lastly, each state we border currently has expanded gambling and people were fed up with those dollars leaving the state.

Cuyahoga County Issue 6 has passed meaning that Ohio's most populated area will be changing the way the government runs. The ballot issue will change the government from three county commissioners and replaces them with an executive and county council.

Issue 5, which would have looked into reform instead of enacting it right away, failed by a wide margin this evening.

2 statewide ballot issues in Ohio are decided. Both Issue 1 and Issue 2 are headed for passage by the Buckeye State electorate. The big issue on the ballot of course was Issue 3 which would bring casinos to Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinatti, and Toledo. That issue is too close to call at this time but is ahead by 6% with 73% of the vote in.

With Issue 1 passing, the constitutional amendment will allow the state to borrow about $200 million that would be repaid over 15 years in order to pay one-time bonuses to veterans who served in the Middle East in our wars in Iraq and Afganastan.

Issue 2 will Issue set up a Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board. The board would have far-reaching powers to set standards for livestock and poultry care, food safety, supply and availability, disease prevention, farm management, and animal well-being.

Cleveland Police Chief Michael McGrath held a press conference November 3, 2009 to talk about the gruesome crime scene at the house of Anthony Sowell. The search of the house has yielded 10 bodies. Sowell was convicted of rape in 1989 and released in 2004. When police asked him about the crimes he admitted he had lost track of the people he had murdered.

There are no surprises in the race for Cleveland Mayor. Incumbent Mayor Frank Jackson defeated challenger Bill Patmon by a wide margin. Jackson is ahead of the fellow Democrat with 35% of the vote in 25,000 votes which translates to 78%-22%.

Patmon was a longshot from the beginning and it didn't help that Jackson had earned the the endorsements by most every powerful figure in the area. This will be Mayor Jackson's second term as Cleveland Mayor.