Cleveland Cuts Deal With Justice Department

Cleveland and the US Justice Department have reached a settlement over alleged abuses by the city's police officers, including the needless use of deadly force, the New York Times reports. No details are out yet, but in similar deals, the Justice Department has demanded that independent monitors manage reforms inside police departments. The settlement also allows Cleveland to sidestep a pricey court battle and the possible perception that city officials are trying to avoid reforms. The deal, which may be announced tomorrow, comes just days after a judge cleared police officer Michael Brelo, who shot and killed two unarmed black people.

Meanwhile, churches in the Cleveland area are organizing rally tomorrow to protest the Brelo ruling, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports. Members of about 40 churches are planning to take part, and the Rev. Al Sharpton is slated to appear at a rally later in the week. "We need people that are willing to march, not just to talk, not just to tweet, not just to text, we need people that are willing to march," a Baptist pastor told his congregation yesterday. "We are going to walk in the middle of the streets. We are going to draw attention to what needs to happen in this city." (More Cleveland stories.)