.Guest Columnist: State Senator Shirley A. Smith (pictured), a Cleveland Democrat, represents Ohio's 21st District.

By Ohio State Senator Shirley Smith (D-21), Guest Columnist

CLEVELAND, Ohio -Clevelanders are now voting on Issue 107, a 15-mill levy for the Cleveland [Municipal] School District. Its fate will have huge repercussions for students and taxpayers. (Editor's note: The Cleveland schools are controlled by Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson per state law and the schools 15 -mill operating levy is on the Nov. 6 ballot for either approval or disapproval by Cleveland voters, a majority of whom are Black).

I oppose the Cleveland plan for multiple reasons. It lacks student-based outcomes. It was sold with hyperbolic doomsday rhetoric. And it failes to address socioeconomic problems that obstruct learning. It will also add to higher water, sewer and garbage bills in 2013.

By Kathy Wray Coleman, Publisher, Editor-n-Chief, Cleveland Urban News.Com, Ohio's Most Read Online Black Newsaper

CLEVELAND,Ohio-At least forty-eight people are dead, a third of them in New York alone, and over 7.5 million customers across the nation in 15 states and the District of Columbia are without power because of Hurricane Sandy. And as the presidential campaign enters its final week, the country is taken by storm literally, and by virtue of a neck and neck race to the White House that has the Republican and Democratic parties fighting each other tooth and nail to the finish line.

By Johnette Jernigan and Kathy Wray Coleman, Cleveland Urban News. Com and The Cleveland Urban News.Com Blog, Ohio's Most Read Online Black Newspaper

CLEVELAND, OHIO -  Barack Obama’s private airplane landed at Burke Lakefront Airport in Cleveland, OH Thursday night to a cheering crowd of 12,000 people and neared the president to a podium where he spoke for nearly a half an hour on his political platform, the importance of early voting, and the necessity of winning Cleveland, Cuyahoga County and Ohio.

And America's first Black president announced that he had won the endorsement of Republican Colin Powell, the first Black U.S. Secretary of State, who served under former president George W. Bush, and a former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff under Bush. (Editor's note: Powell also endorsed the Democrat Obama for president in 2008).

“I just got the endorsement from Colin Powell,” said Obama. “I am glad to be back in Cleveland, Ohio.”

From the Metro Desk of Cleveland Urban News.Com (www.clevelandurbannews.com)

CLEVELAND, Ohio- The Imperial Women Coalition, other community activist groups, Imperial Avenue residents, Black elected officials, and others will hold The Third Anniversary of The Imperial Ave Murders And Stop The Violence Rally In Cooperation With Domestic Violence Month And Purplelight Vigil on Saturday, Oct 27, 2012 at 5:00  pm on the corner of  E. 123rd St and  Imperial Ave., next to the since demolished home of serial killer Anthony Sowell (pictured). (From downtown Cleveland take Kinsman Ave to E. 123rd St, turn left, and proceed two blocks to Imperial Ave with the home next to the corner).