Akron City Council appointed a new at-large councilmember this week to fill a vacancy left by longtime councilmember Jeff Fusco. Mark Greer, former director of the nonprofit that organized Akron's bicentennial, will take the seat.

Cleveland Public Schools officials contend hundreds of layoffs are necessary as part of a consolidation plan called "Building Brighter Futures." Teachers and parents disagreed loudly at a board meeting this week at Max S. Hayes High School, saying the loss of teachers and staff imperil students' futures.

Ward 15 Cleveland City Councilmember Charles Slife said data centers suck up power and water. He's proposed a city ordinance that would put a one-year moratorium on new data centers while zoning is addressed.

These stories and other news of the week are included in Friday's Reporters Roundtable.

Guests:
- Glenn Forbes, Deputy Editor of News, Ideastream Public Media
- Michelle Jarboe, Reporter, News 5 Cleveland, WEWS
- Karen Kasler, Bureau Chief, Ideastream Statehouse News Bureau

The National Endowment for the Art's "Big Read" is an opportunity for an entire literary community to read a selected title and pair that reading with programming and events tied to the themes of the book.

This year, dozens of branches across the Cuyahoga County Public Library as well as the Cleveland Public Library systems read "Bite By Bite: Nourishments and Jambourees" by Aimee Nezhukumatathil, which examines how food and culture are intertwined.

Libraries across the region also planned food events, gardening classes and art exhibits to coincide with the community reading program.

Thursday on the "Sound of Ideas," we speak to Nezhukumatathil about the book, as well as event organizers from Cleveland Public Library and Heights Libraries.

Guests:

- Aimee Nezhukumatathil, Author, "Bite By Bite: Nourishments and Jambourees"

- Erica Marks, Senior Director of Outreach & Programing Services, Cleveland Public Library

- Gale Koritansky, Executive Director, Heights Libraries

"The Menu" - Best Restaurants

From smashburgers to soup dumplings, from Turkish fried eggs to punk rock chicken, one could argue that Northeast Ohio punches above its weight in terms of culinary delights.

That argument is strengthened by Cleveland Magzine's list of "50 Best Restaurants in Cleveland and Northeast Ohio" which was released this week. And this year's list was expanded from 25 to 50. Along with that list, the magazine also released its "Silver Spoon Awards," which are the favorite restaurants as voted by readers.

We’ll close Thursday's show digging into Cleveland' Magazine's guide.

Guests:

- Dillon Stewart, Editor, Cleveland Magazine

- Christina Rufo, Editorial Assistant, Cleveland Magazine

Nearly one in six people globally are lonely, and every year about 871,000 deaths are linked to loneliness, according to the World Health Organization. But making friends as an adult can be difficult.

Social isolation spiked during the COVID-19 pandemic, and even when communities reopened, many people never fully rebuilt their social circles.

In 2023, former U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy said that a lack of social connection can be as harmful as smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day, citing increased risks of heart disease, depression and premature death.

Higher rates of loneliness were also found in communities of color, the LGBTQ+ community and in migrants.

Wednesday on the "Sound of Ideas," we're talking about how people are pushing back against that trend by finding creative, unconventional ways to build community and make meaningful connections here in Northeast Ohio.

Guests:
- Brittany Marchetti, Founder, First Round Cleveland
- Abigail Thomas, Creator and Co-Leader, Yap Out Yonder
- Eileen Callahan, Member, Cle Gals Book Club
- Rebecca Maxwell, Founder, She's Company

"Godmother of Fashion" honored at Kent State University

Twice a year, fashion designers converge in Manhattan for a weeklong display of what's new in wardrobe. But it was not always this way. We have the woman who has been dubbed the “godmother of fashion” to thank for this, Fern Mallis, who is being inducted into the Kent State University School of Fashion Hall of Fame this week.

Mallis is famous for creating New York Fashion Week, with its predecessor event, "7th on Sixth," and getting fashion designers to collaborate and show up in the same space at a time when that was unheard of.

Mallis was the Executive Director of the Council of Fashion Designers of America from 1991 to 2001, later serving as Senior Vice President of IMG Fashion.

She has interviewed the greats as host of the "Fashion Icons" series at the 92nd Street Y such as Calvin Klein, Tom Ford, Marc Jacobs, Donna Karan, Michael Kors, Tommy Hilfiger, Betsey Johnson, Valentino and Diane von Fürstenberg. Now, the “Sound of Ideas” gets to ask her the questions.

Mallis will be speaking about her career and the fashion industry in general at the KSU School of Fashion's annual Hall of Fame lecture on Friday, May 1 at 11 A.M in the university's Rockwell Hall. The lecture is free and open to the public.

Guest:
- Fern Mallis, 2026 Inductee, Kent State University School of Fashion Hall of Fame

Rates of the serious and sometimes deadly pregnancy condition, preeclampsia, have climbed 25% over the past two decades, yet there is little research on its cause, and no cure besides giving birth, which can lead to a difficult situation when the complication is discovered weeks or even months before the baby's due date.

Preeclampsia, which causes high blood pressure, affects about 1 in every 12 pregnancies in the U.S., with certain groups at increased risk, including women over 35 and Black women.

On Tuesday's "Sound of Ideas," we're going to talk to mothers who have survived preeclampsia, and we'll talk to healthcare workers and advocates who are working to improve the outcomes for mothers and babies.

Guests:
- Kelly Gibson, M.D., Division Director, Maternal Fetal Medicine, MetroHealth
- Tonae Bolton, Senior Director, Strategy and Engagement, Birthing Beautiful Communities & Full Spectrum Doula & Certified Diversity Practitioner
- Victoria McGinnis, Mother
- Liz McCrea, Mother

As prices for things like food, gas and utilities swing wildly, those concerns don't appear to be dissipating. In years past, when the cost of living outpaced a rise in wages, a higher percentage of the population had the option of banding together to negotiate pay increases through their labor unions. Union membership peaked in 1954, with nearly 35% of all U.S. wage and salary workers belonging to unions, according to the Congressional Research Service.

But with overall union membership at just 10% today, and at an all time low of 5.9% in the private sector, what recourse do workers have amid rising costs?

And what about concerns other than the size of your paycheck compared to the cost of living? For example, many workers are also worried about the rapid adoption of artificial intelligence and how that will impact the labor market.

Could pushing back against AI unite both blue and white collar workers?

Will this current generation of political leaders come up with solutions for the benefit of the working class?

We'll look at the labor landscape for the first part of Monday's "Sound of Ideas" in the latest installment of our "Law of The Land" series where we look at how the law affects our everyday lives.

Guests:

- Noam Scheiber, Labor Reporter, New York Times; Author, "Mutiny: The Rise and Revolt of the College-Educated Working Class"

- Grace Heffernan, Executive Director, Northeast Ohio Worker Center

- Yanela Sims, Ohio State Director, SEIU Local 1

Cuyahoga County’s plan to build a new jail stalled this week after Prosecutor Michael O’Malley renewed his objections to the project and called on the state auditor’s Public Integrity Unit to investigate its approval and spending. The county plans to build the new jail complex in Garfield Heights, with a price tag approaching $1 billion.

The Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission has published a list of more than 300 trucking companies with at least $5,000 in unpaid tolls. The combined total owed exceeds $5 million.

A historic and prime piece of lakefront property is back on the market. The General Services Administration first sought to offload the Cleveland West Pierhead Lighthouse in 2023. The lighthouse is now available at no cost, but only to government, nonprofit or educational agencies.

We'll discuss these stories and other news of the week on Friday's Reporters Roundtable.

Guests:

- Matthew Richmond, Criminal Justice Reporter, Ideastream Public Media

- Anna Huntsman, Akron-Canton Reporter, Ideastream Public Media

- Karen Kasler, Bureau Chief, Ideastream Statehouse News Bureau

We've discussed planting and maintaining trees to improve our region's tree canopy, to rethinking how you buy and wash clothes to combat pollution from the fashion industry, to changing your outdoor lighting to protect migrating birds.

We'll end the series by talking about the major issue of plastic waste.

For decades, there's been this emphasis on the individual. You know the phrase: "Reduce, reuse, recycle." But though there have been major efforts to curb single use plastic on an individual level, by bringing reusable shopping bags to the grocery store or carrying around your own steel water bottle, and even on a citywide level, through city recycling programs, we're not seeing that reduction in plastic pollution. It's quite the opposite.

A December Pew Charitable Trust report found that without action, plastic pollution will more than double over the next 15 years, driven by increases in production that are rising twice as fast as waste management. And microplastic pollution will grow by more than 50% through 2040.

In a new book, "Plastic, Inc," environmental journalist Beth Gardiner turns the spotlight on the industry that is driving this production and explains how it is going to take much more than reusable water bottles to change our trajectory.

On Thursday's "Sound of Ideas" we'll talk to Gardiner and also hear from two Ohio experts who can talk about efforts to study and combat plastic waste.

Guests:
- Beth Gardiner, Author, Plastic, Inc
- Mark Warman, Emerging Contaminants Specialist, Ohio Sea Grant, The Ohio State University
- James Eagan, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Polymer Science, University of Akron

"Shuffle"
A Cleveland musician built a global following online with viral street drumming and layered cover songs. But her sound is rooted in the churches that shaped her. On this week's Shuffle, we hear from Lacretia "TT" Bolden, known online as "The Cover Girl."

Guests:
- Amanda Rabinowitz, Host and Producer, "Shuffle" and "All Things Considered"
- Lacretia "TT" Bolden, Musician

Wednesday is Earth Day, and it's a chance to show appreciation for the environment right outside our front door. For many of us, that starts with the trees in our own yards.

Trees cool our homes, clean the air, manage stormwater and even boost property values. But across Northeast Ohio, they're currently under threat.

In Cleveland, the urban tree canopy is estimated to be around 18%, well below the roughly 30 to 40% coverage experts say is ideal for a healthy city.

Akron's tree canopy sits around 35%, but coverage is uneven. Some neighborhoods are lush and shaded, while others have far fewer trees, leaving residents more exposed to heat and environmental stress.

Wednesday on the "Sound of Ideas," we're talking about what that means for residents. We'll learn how to care for the trees you have, when it's safe to tackle projects on your own and when it's time to call in a professional.

We'll also dig into the bigger picture: why our regional tree canopy is declining and what's being done to restore it, including the work of a federally funded group in Akron, Project ACORN.

Guests:
- Tom Schreiber, Senior Manager of Community Forestry, Western Reserve Land Conservancy
- Jessica Glowczewski, Watershed Superintendent, City of Akron

How the fashion industry impacts our health and our environment, and what can be done to change it for the better

As you think about what you're wearing at the moment, do you know what material or materials your outfit is made from? What about how you're supposed to wash it? Is it dry clean only? Are you supposed line dry it, or can you finish it in your dyer on tumble dry low? And when you're done wearing it for the last time, whether it can be recycled?

You might not know the answers to all of these questions off the top of your head, but they make a big difference to our environment, and our health. If you did know more about what you're wearing, how it's produced, what it takes to keep it clean, and what can happen to it when you're done with it, you just might make different choices when it comes to your wardrobe.

In the second half of the program, we'll learn about the environmental impact of the fashion industry with experts from different corners of this world who are trying to change it for the better.

Editor’s note: During the course of our conversation, the threshold for activating California’s SB 707 “Responsible Textile Recovery Act of 2024” for producers of textiles was misstated. To clarify, the producer volume threshold is $1 million USD and over, not under.

Guests:
- Gargi Bhaduri, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Kent State University School of Fashion
- Lisa Goldsand, Founder, Circular Thrift
- Gail Baugh, Author, "The Fashion Designer's Textile Directory"

The price tag for building a new jail in Cuyahoga County came into focus this week as county officials worked toward an agreement to move the project forward.

A developer held an open house in Stark County, where neighbors raised questions and concerns about a proposed data center in Perry Township. Projects such as this are increasingly drawing pushback.

And Lyme disease cases in Ohio have surged, with experts saying current weather patterns are doing little to deter tick survival.

These are some of the stories we’ll discuss this week on the Reporters Roundtable.

Guests:
- Andrew Meyer, Deputy Editor of News, Ideastream Public Media
- Zaria Johnson, Environment Reporter/Producer, Ideastream Public Media
- Karen Kasler, Statehouse News Bureau Chief, Ohio Public Radio/TV

They could be one of the anonymous Michelin Guide inspectors, who have already begun scouring Cleveland and other Midwest cities, including Detroit, Pittsburgh, Milwaukee, Indianapolis and Minneapolis, for impressive culinary talent to be featured in next year's new American Great Lakes Edition.

What will Cleveland joining the Michelin Guide mean for restaurants, all vying for that coveted and elusive star rating? A 2025 Ernst and Young study found 82% of chefs said they saw an increase in profits after receiving a star, with 60% saying they were able to recruit new talents.

On Thursday's "Sound of Ideas," we'll hear from chefs and others connected to the food scene about what sets Cleveland apart on the international stage.

Could this make The Land a destination dining location? And how will this impact native customers experience?

Guests:
- Jeremy Umansky, Chef & Co-owner, Larder Delicatessen & Bakery
- Liu Fang, Chef & Owner, Abundance Culinary
- Christina Rufo, Reporter, Cleveland Magazine
- Emily Lauer, Vice President, Public Relations, Destination Cleveland

The Menu: Filipino Food
Northeast Ohio is home to a vibrant Filipino population, supported by organizations like the Philippine American Society of Ohio and the Filipino American Historical Society, which help connect people through food, history and shared experience.

Clevelanders will soon have multiple chances to explore a variety of Filipino cuisines all in one place.

On April 25, Brewnuts Donuts and Beer are hosting a mini market showcasing local entrepreneurs. The weekend of May 16, the annual Cleveland Asian Festival returns, where Filipino food will be part of a broader showcase of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month through performances, music and, of course, plenty to eat.

We're talking Filipino food on this installment of "The Menu," our biweekly series about Northeast Ohio's food scene, in partnership with Cleveland Magazine.

Guests:
- Flora Grk, Owner, Tita Flora's
- Mariel Bernarte, Owner, Maki Halo
- Rhea Doria, Founder and CEO, hi raya!

Even though judges are instrumental when it comes to upholding the law as it is written, there are things everyday Americans can do to support that effort.

On Tuesday, "Sound of Ideas" host Stephanie Haney will be moderating a conversation about the rule of law at the City Club of Cleveland with retired Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Maureen O'Connor, who is a Republican, and former Ohio Supreme Court Justice Mike Donnelly, who is a Democrat. They've come together to speak out about the importance of the rule of law to preserving democracy as our form of government.

The justices join the "Sound of Ideas" on Tuesday for a preview of the event, in the latest installment of our "Law of The Land" series, where we look at legal issues that affect our everyday lives.

Guests:

- Maureen O'Connor, Retired Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice

- Michael Donnelly, Former Ohio Supreme Court Justice

Conservative Ohio lawmakers, supported by faith-based and mental health advocates, are seeking to overhaul Ohio's sports gambling laws. Sports betting outside of casinos, proposition bets on individual player performance, and any gambling on college games would be banned if two bills they introduced are passed.

Northeast Ohio's air is cleaner, as several counties now meet the federal Environmental Protection Agency's standards outlined in the Clean Air Act.

Cleveland restaurants will soon be eligible for inclusion in a newly launched Great Lakes edition of the Michelin Guide, giving local dining spots a chance to earn a Michelin star.

College-bound students in Ohio may soon have another option for entrance exams beyond the ACT and SAT. It's called the Classic Learning Test, or CLT.

These are some of the stories this week on the Friday Reporters Roundtable.

Guests:
- Abbey Marshall, Local Government Reporter, Ideastream Public Media
- Conor Morris, Education Reporter, Ideastream Public Media
- Karen Kasler, Chief, The Statehouse News Bureau

As THC and CBD-infused drinks grow in popularity, especially among people looking for alternatives to alcohol, Ohio's new law restricting hemp-derived products is changing how and where those beverages can be sold.

After voters approved recreational cannabis use in 2023, a number of small businesses across the state began selling THC drinks, with some seeing demand rival traditional beer and wine.

Wednesday on the "Sound of Ideas," we'll discuss Senate Bill 56, signed in December and enacted in March, which makes selling hemp products like these illegal.

At first, the law included a provision allowing THC beverages to continue being sold by breweries and retailers for a limited time. But Governor Mike DeWine used a line-item veto to remove that carveout, saying it could create confusion around how the products are regulated.

The change has prompted legal challenges and created uncertainty for businesses that invested in the drinks, with some pulling products, cutting staff, shifting operations out of state or closing completely.

And with a similar federal law set to take effect in November, the future of hemp products—and the businesses built around them—remains uncertain.

Guests:
- Brent Zimmerman, Founder and CEO, Saucy Brew Works
- Steven Pauwels, Co-CEO, Great Lakes Brewing Company
- Sarah Donaldson, Reporter/Producer, Statehouse News Bureau
- Nick Marie, Owner, Buddy's Bud Co.

How racial discrimination shapes the mental and physical health of youth of color

Studies from the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry show that 90% of youth of color report encountering racial discrimination in their lifetime.

Its impacts can shape their mental and physical health outcomes, but many families have found ways to help their children navigate those experiences by talking more openly about vulnerable topics and going to therapy.

But experts say there are still gaps between how those conversations happen at home and how they are supported in clinical settings.

A local lecture presented by the Case Western Reserve University Schubert Center for Child Studies will explore how families, providers and even new technologies can play a role in helping young people cope with race-related stress, and what more can be done to support their mental health.

Later in the show, we'll get a preview of that conversation from this year's Kessler Freedheim Lecture speaker, Riana Elyse Anderson. Joining her for the conversation is Habeebah Rasheed Grimes, an expert in trauma-informed care and culturally responsive leadership.

The two will be at the Tinkham Veale University Center Tuesday from noon to 1:30 pm. Register for the event at case.edu/schubertcenter.

Guests:
- Riana Elyse Anderson, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Columbia University, School of Social Work
- Habeebah Rasheed Grimes, Founder/Principal Consultant, Habeebah Rasheed Grimes LLC

Every year in the United States there are over 4-thousand drowning deaths, making it the second leading cause of unintentional injury death for children ages 5-14, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In Northeast Ohio, due to the proximity to Lake Erie and Cuyahoga River, there is even more reason to teach young people to swim. According to the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project, in 2025 there were 19 drownings in Lake Erie. With summer fast approaching, the likelihood of accidental drownings increases.

The nonprofit program, AquaMissions, now located at Cleveland State University, teaches kids ages 7 to 11 how to swim to help prevent accidental drownings.

The "Sound of Ideas" is partnering with Cleveland State University student journalists this semester. On Tuesday's show, we'll highlight the work of Aquamissions with a segment produced by CSU's "Broadcast Pre-Production" class.

Guests:

- Lynne Nagy, Ph.D., Founder and Executive Director, AquaMissions

- Ronqesha Robinson, Assistant Principal, Rhodes College & Career Academy, Cleveland Metropolitan School District & Board Member, AquaMissions

- Devyn Etling, AquaMissions Intern and Instructor & Senior, Cleveland State University

- Misa Colon, AquaMissions Student & Fourth Grader, Garfield Elementary, Cleveland Metropolitan School District

Artemis II Moon Mission

On April 1, NASA launched its first moon-related mission since the 1970s, a 10-day mission with four crew members set to slingshot around the moon, and return to Earth.

Monday, astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen completed their lunar fly by, and with that, the Artemis II mission crew has traveled farther from Earth than any human in history.

Now the four astronuats aboard the Orion multi-purpose crew vehicle, which they have nicknamed "Integrity," are making their way back for a splash down in San Diego planned for Friday night.

As they say at the NASA Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, "the road to the moon goes through Ohio." We'll talk to NASA Glenn's human exploration chief on Tuesday's "Sound of Ideas" to talk about this mission and the Artemis program in general.

Guest:

- Aaron Weaver, Ph.D., Chief of Human Exploration and Space Operations Projects, NASA Glenn Research Center

CIFF Turns 50

The 50th Cleveland International Film Festival kicks off this Thursday.

While the event has remained one of Northeast Ohio's cultural touchstones, it's also undergone several big changes in the past few years, most notably shifting home venues.

And while the festival continues to evolve with this year's 50th iteration, it once again offers hundreds of screenings to cinephiles who will be in attendance.

Guest:

- Kabir Bhatia, Senior Arts Reporter, Ideastream Public Media

According to the Yale school of medicine, even though it is one of the most common women's health conditions, affecting 1 in 10 women worldwide, it is one of the most misunderstood and misdiagnosed.

It can take between four and 11 years for women to receive a correct diagnosis, according to the American Medical Association, and it has no cure.

There are a host of other conditions that women navigate that experts say are under researched and misunderstood, including polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS, which is a common hormonal disorder, impacting 10% to 13% of women, that can lead to irregular or painful periods, weight gain, among other issues.

According to the Society for Women's Health Research, almost half of women saw three or more clinicians before being diagnosed. And it is estimated that up to 70% of women with PCOS do not know they have it. Both endometriosis and PCOS are associated with fertility challenges.

On Thursday's "Sound of Ideas," an expert in women's health helps us better understand these conditions and others. We'll learn why it can be so difficult to receive a diagnosis, as well as what treatment options are available. We'll hear directly from patients, who will share how these diseases have, in some cases, completely upended their lives.

Guests:
- Rachel Pope, M.D., OB/GYN & Chief of Female Sexual Health, University Hospitals
- Megan Clarke, Patient with endometriosis
- Megan Gallager, Patient who had thyroid removed twice
- Sarah Lackney, Patient with uterine fibroids

The Menu: New foods at Progressive Field
Tomorrow is Opening Day for the Cleveland Guardians, and at Progressive Field, fans will find more than just a new roster.

The stadium is rolling out a new lineup of food, local partnerships and updated spaces. It's also drawing national attention, ranking fourth on USA Today's "10 Best" list for baseball stadium food.

Voters highlighted Cleveland favorites, from pierogi and sausages to the Slider Dog topped with Froot Loops, bacon and mac and cheese.

This season also brings expanded collaborations with local spots like Good Company, STEAK, Aladdin's, and Sauce the City.

Concession areas are getting a refresh as well, with the Arcade Marketplace shifting to a grab-and-go format and the former Fat Head's space reopening as The Landing, a self-checkout market and gathering spot.

"The Menu" is our biweekly segment on Northeast Ohio's food scene, produced in collaboration with Cleveland Magazine.

Guests:
- Dillon Stewart, Editor, Cleveland Magazine
- Julia Licastro, Vice President of Operations and Partner, Hangry Brands
- Rachelle Murphy, Culinary Director, Seasoned Brands

The story begins our discussion of the week’s news on the “Sound of Ideas Reporters Roundtable.”

The families of two innocent bystander women killed in separate high-speed pursuits by the former Cuyahoga County Sheriff's Downtown Safety Patrol have sued the county.

According to a report from the American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio, by the end of last year, 14 of the state's 88 counties had agreements to cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement efforts or the U.S. Marshalls Service.

The crew of Artemis II is on its third full day of its 10-day mission, lifting off from Kennedy Space Center on Wednesday. The mission is another step toward an anticipated lunar landing in 2028 with a goal of establishing a permanent lunar base.

Get ready, drivers. The official state flower of Ohio, the Orange Barrel Blossom, are blooming on roads everywhere. The Ohio Department of Transportation announced a slate of highway projects, including $3.4 billion in new ones and the continuation of several multi-year projects.

Pothole season is well underway and it's busy. On April 2, a giant hole on Interstate 90 kept poaching tires. Off the highways, Cleveland's roads are more of a minefield than ever. Ideastream Public Media Reporter Abbey Marshall crunched numbers and found more than 1,500 pothole repair requests this year, up 50% from last year.

A grassroots effort to ban data centers in Ohio cleared another procedural hurdle yesterday when the Ohio Ballot Board approved proposed amendment language. The group now needs to gather more than 400,000 valid signatures, drawn from at least half of Ohio’s counties to make the November ballot.

Guests:

- Glenn Forbes, Deputy Editor of News, Ideastream Public Media

- Gabriel Kramer, Reporter, Ideastream Public Media

- Karen Kasler, Statehouse News Bureau Chief, Ohio Public Radio/TV

The Ohio Primary will be decided May 5 when voters choose the party candidates for a number of races including Ohio governor where Vivek Ramaswamy is the leader on the Republican ticket and Amy Acton is running unopposed on the Democratic ticket, while Don Kissick is running on the Libertarian ticket. Other statewide offices as well as federal, statehouse and judicial races are on the ballot. And voters in some areas will also decide school and other issues.

The voter registration deadline is Monday, April 6. Early voting, both in-person and by mail, begins on April 7. And now is the time for voters to check on their registration and decide how they plan to vote.

Ohio Secretary of State web site
Directory of Ohio county boards of elections
Early voting calendar and hours

During this primary cycle, there is also talk in Washington of hardening voter registration and voting rules, including adding a proof of citizenship requirement. The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act or SAVE Act is being discussed in the U.S. Senate. It's already passed the U.S. House. While we don't know if that legislation will pass or if lawmakers will hammer out changes to it, the media coverage may have confused some voters for this primary.

On Wednesday's "Sound of Ideas," we will talk about registering and voting in the May primary and how the SAVE Act could impact access to voting if it passed.

Guests:
- Jen Miller, Executive Director, League of Women Voters of Ohio
- Aaron Ockerman, Executive Director, Ohio Association of Election Officials

The war in Iran began just over a month ago, when airstrikes launched by the U.S. and Israel killed Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who had led the country for more than three decades. His son, Mojtaba Khamenei, was named successor soon after.

At least 1,900 Iranians have been killed since the war began, according to Iran's Health Ministry. On the U.S. side, 13 service members were killed, and more than 300 have been injured.

Efforts to end the conflict remain uncertain. The U.S. has proposed a 15-point ceasefire plan, but Iranian officials have rejected it, calling the terms unrealistic. Last weekend, Pakistan's foreign minister announced that his country is willing to facilitate peace talks between the two nations.

But beyond the headlines, the war is being felt deeply in Northeast Ohio.

The region is home to a vibrant and longstanding Iranian American community that shares its culture through traditions such as local Ramadan festivities and One World Day. This year, Cleveland also hosted its first Nowruz, or Persian New Year, celebration at City Hall.

Tuesday on the "Sound of Ideas," we'll turn to members of that community to hear how they are processing this moment — balancing ties to their heritage, concern for loved ones abroad and life here in the U.S.

Due to the sensitive nature of this topic, one of our guests will be referenced by their first name only.

Guests:
- Mohammad Sohrabi, Northeast Ohio Resident
- Hengameh Arjomandi, MBA Candidate, Weatherhead School of Management, Case Western Reserve University
- Manouchehr, Northeast Ohio Resident

Tax deadline nears

Tomorrow is April, which in addition to the anticipated "April showers," means that Tax Day is approaching on April 15 — and there are some changes to take note of.

For instance, a growing number of filers are facing tax refund delays amid the Internal Revenue Service's decision to phase out paper checks.

And we'll talk about the change to "no tax on tips" in which some filers will be able to deduct up to $25,000 of tips from federal income taxes.

Guest:
- Alexis Kim, Tax Lawyer & Partner, Thompson Hine LLP

Drug-related prison rule violations doubled in Ohio, from 2020 to 2024. It's a problem that leaders say is representative of the greater communities we all live in, but the outside world isn't subject to the same controls that incarcerated people are supposed to be subject to.

A year-long investigation by journalists with the Marshall Project Cleveland and the Columbus Dispatch has revealed the alarming extent to which Ohio prison officials are failing at stopping drugs from being smuggled inside, and how those drugs are leading to inmate deaths.

On the "Sound of Ideas" on Monday, we talk with those journalists and hear from some of their interviewees, including people who are currently serving sentences for their roles in Ohio's prison drug trade.

Guests:
- Doug Livingston, Staff Writer, Marshall Project Cleveland
- Laura Bischoff, Ohio Politics and State Government Reporter, Columbus Dispatch
- Alex Krotulski, Ph.D., Director of Toxicology & Chemistry, Center for Forensic Science Research and Education

How prison gerrymandering impacts voting districts and what rights incarcerated people have when it comes to voting

Voting rights experts say people who are incarcerated have been incorrectly represented by their governments for decades due to a practice called "prison gerrymandering," by which the Census counts individuals as residents of correctional facilities, rather than their homes prior to incarceration.

Research shows this tends to boost the political power of districts that contain prisons, often in rural areas, and decrease the political power of urban communities and communities of color.

On the "Sound of Ideas" on Monday, we dive into the issue of prison gerrymandering and voting rights for incarcerated people, in the latest installment of our "Law of The Land" series.

Guests:
- Emilia Sykes, Democrat, U.S. Representative for Ohio's 13th District
- Kareem Crayton, the Brennan Center for Justice's Vice President for Washington, D.C.

A large lakefront park. Walking trails. A downtown campground. Hotels. Perhaps a nine-hole golf course. Are these transformative ideas? Nothing close to a formal proposal has emerged.

In Akron, a master plan is now in place for redevelopment of the abandoned Innerbelt, which bisected a once-thriving Black neighborhood decades ago. The plan would restore the area as a neighborhood, with 4,500 new homes and space for local businesses.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents are now patrolling terminals at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, deployed as funding for the Department of Homeland Security and the Transportation Security Administration remains in flux amid a congressional dispute. However, Hopkins has not experienced the disruptions seen at other airports, such as Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson. It is also unclear what role the agents are playing in Cleveland.

The Ohio House voted to ban drag performances in locations where children may be present, effectively ending events such as library drag story hours. Meanwhile, the Ohio Supreme Court will consider the constitutionality of House Bill 68, which bans gender-affirming medications and non-surgical treatments for transgender minors. The law passed in 2023 and took effect in 2024 after the Legislature overrode Gov. Mike DeWine’s veto.

Guests:

- Zaria Johnson, Environment Reporter, Ideastream Public Media

- Josh Boose, Supervising Producer - Newscasts, Ideastream Public Media

- Karen Kasler, Statehouse News Bureau Chief, Ohio Public/Radio TV

Many psychological studies have shown that when men outwardly express anger, it's generally perceived as showing strength and power. But when women do it, it's often viewed as being difficult or out of control, so many women have learned to bottle their rage, for fear of social repercussions.

During a personal struggle, photographer Christina Ramirez felt like she couldn't voice her frustrations, and realized if she felt stifled, others might too, so she invited others who were assigned female at birth (AFAB) regardless of how they identify today to join her in what became "the rage project." On Thursday's episode of the "Sound of Ideas," we're exploring "the rage project" sessions where Ramirez takes photos of her subjects displaying their anger in public places. She's now in the process of photographing round four of the project.

Guests:
- Christina Ramirez, Photographer, Creator of Cleveland's "the rage project"
- Carrie Williams, "the rage project" subject
- Samantha Cocco, "the rage project" subject
- Shayla Redding, "the rage project" subject

Playhouse Square announces 2026-27 Broadway season

Cuba, Hogwarts and Greece are just a few of the places you can go next season with Playhouse Square. The 2026-2027 KeyBank Broadway Series unveiled Wednesday includes a pair of jukebox musicals and a revival alongside some of the Great White Way's most popular shows from the past decade.

Thursday on the "Sound of Ideas," Ideastream Public Media's Kabir Bhatia previews what you can snag tickets to, while they're still available, with Playhouse Square's Senior Vice President of Programming David Greene.

Guests:
- Kabir Bhatia, Senior Arts Reporter, Ideastream Public Media
- David Greene, Senior Vice President, Programming, Playhouse Square

Two Northeast Ohio musicians bring unfinished ideas to life

Two longtime Northeast Ohio folk artists, Gretchen Pleuss and Adam Reifsnyder, are reuniting to take care of some unfinished business.

On this week’s "Shuffle," Ideastream Public Media’s Amanda Rabinowitz shares the story of their creative partnership.

Guests:
- Amanda Rabinowitz, Host and Producer, "Shuffle" and "All Things Considered," Ideastream Public Media
- Gretchen Pleuss, Artist
- Adam Reifsnyder, Artist

There are more than 14,000 children currently in foster care across Ohio, down from a record high of 17,000 in 2020, according to the state Department of Children and Youth.

Foster care can play a critical role in supporting children and families during times of crisis, but the number of available foster parents has declined in recent years.

Wednesday on the "Sound of Ideas," we're talking about what's driving that trend — including economic pressures like the ongoing affordability crisis — and what it takes to become a foster parent in Cuyahoga and Summit counties.

We'll also hear about existing support systems for foster families and the impact they can have on children in need.

Guests:
- Karin Austin, Social Program Administrator, Cuyahoga County Division of Children and Family Services
- Traci Foley, Director, Placement Services Department, Summit County Children Services
- Kathleen Paydo, Foster Parent, Summit County
- Kathy DiVincenzo, Executive Director & Founder, Honey from the Rock (Cleveland Foster Care Closet)

Cleveland Humanities Festival: FREEDOM to Play

Recreation and play are essential to children’s health and development, but not all communities have equal access to safe, well-resourced spaces.

As part of the 2026 Cleveland Humanities Festival, an upcoming panel conversation titled “FREEDOM to Play” will examine how these disparities, along with the over-policing of Black and brown youth, shape childhood experiences.

The discussion will also explore how recreational freedom influences children’s mental and emotional health and their overall sense of self.

This year’s festival is co-sponsored by the Schubert Center for Child Studies and the Baker-Nord Center for the Humanities.

Guest:
- Harrison Pinckney IV, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Recreation, Parks and Tourism Management, Penn State University

Some have described the organization as President Donald Trump’s alternative to the United Nations, which he has repeatedly criticized. So far, 24 countries have signed up, although none of the signatories are America’s traditional allies.

On Tuesday's "Sound of Ideas," we'll hear the latest installment of "Talking Foreign Policy," our quarterly series in collaboration with Case Western Reserve University, host Michael Scharf and a panel of experts discuss the implications of President Trump's Board of Peace.

They'll also discuss how the current war with Iran impacts the mission of the Board of Peace. Does that conflict stand in contrast with President Trump's attempts at a global peace?

Guests:
- Michael Scharf, President, The American Branch of the International Law Association; Former Dean, Case Western Reserve University School of Law
- Harold Hongju Koh, Professor & Former Dean of Yale School of Law; Former Assistant Secretary, The U.S. Department of State
- Milena Sterio, Distinguished University Professor, Cleveland State University College of Law; Managing Director, The Public International Law & Policy Group
- Leila Sadat, Professor, Washington University School of Law; Board Chair, The American Branch of the International Law Association
- Jessica Peake, Director, The International and Comparative Law Program, UCLA School of Law

When it comes to love, is age just a number? A new Netflix dating show, "Age of Attraction," is trying to answer that question by giving people the opportunity to connect while at a beautiful resort in Canada, without revealing their ages. On Monday's episode of the "Sound of Ideas," we'll talk with participant and Canton native Vanessa Drozda, 50, about her experience with this social experiment.

According to the Pew Research Center, heterosexual married couples are trending toward becoming closer in age. But just because it might not be resulting in marriage for most people, doesn't mean Americans aren't exploring relationships with people in different age brackets. An Ipsos poll conducted on behalf of Cougar Life in 2024 showed that many American adults have been in relationships with an age-gap of 10 or more years.

That was Vanessa's experience while starring on the show, as she turned 50 a few months ago, and is seen on the show dating Logan Goodrid, who is twenty years younger than her.

Guest:
- Vanessa Drozda, Salon owner and "Age of Attraction" participant

Clevelanders test theory that love can bloom without initial physical attraction on Netflix's "Love Is Blind"

Netflix's "Love Is Blind " is a long -running dating show where people get a chance to try to connect without seeing each other in person, and two Clevelanders gave it a shot on the most recent season featuring an all-Ohio cast.

What happens when you like what you hear from someone, before you can put a face to their name? On Monday's edition of the "Sound of Ideas," we'll talk with Clevelanders Michael Gibney and Ashley Carpenter who lived this reality, and neither ended up saying "I do" to their matches on the show after coming face to face.

Guests:
- Michael Gibney, Sales manager, "Love Is Blind" participant
- Ashley Carpenter, Claims manager, "Love Is Blind" participant

First 50 years of Apple technology explored by Shaker Heights native and journalist David Pogue in latest book

As the Apple company approaches 50 years in business on April 1, a new book by Shaker Heights native and author David Pogue explores its ongoing legacy.

The CBS News Sunday Morning correspondent returns to the "Sound of Ideas" on Monday to talk about his book, "Apple: The First 50 Years," which covers how Apple launched from humble beginnings in Cupertino, California and went on to shape our relationship with technology through the iPod and iPhone devices.

Pogue will be discussing his book at the City Club of Cleveland this Friday.

Guest:
- David Pogue, Author, "Apple: The First 50 Years"

According to NASA, the space rock weighed 17,000 pounds and was 6 feet in diameter. It broke apart, traveling more than 40,000 miles per hour creating a wave of pressure and a loud "boom" heard across much of the area. Some cameras were able to catch the streaking ball of fire as it made its descent through the atmosphere.

We will talk about the meteor and the scramble for pieces of it left behind on the "Sound of Ideas Reporters Roundtable."

But first, over the last few months, we've been talking about the pushback on data centers in the state due to concerns including noise, water use and demand on the electrical grid. Now some people in rural southern Ohio want voters to decide whether the state should stop rolling out the welcome mat for data centers. The group wants to put it to a vote with a proposed constitutional amendment.

The plan to develop a "mega site" in Lorain County hit a snag on Tuesday. Russia Township trustees unanimously voted against an application to rezone 600 acres from agricultural to industrial use. County officials back the plan which supporters have described as a "once in a generation" opportunity. But people living near the project are strongly opposed to the plan.

A new Ohio law that bans intoxicating hemp goes into effect today, after efforts to block it fell short. This includes a ban on hemp-infused THC drinks and candies.

Changes to Ohio's dangerous dog law are now in effect. Those changes are collectively known as "Avery's Law," named after a teenage girl near Columbus who was attacked by two pitbulls while she was visiting a friend's house for a playdate.

Ohio became the 19th state in the nation to ban an election format known as ranked choice voting.

The city of Canton has reversed course and will now allow water access for residential properties in Perry Township. The city had stopped approving new requests and service transfers in early February due to an ongoing dispute with Perry Township trustees over a Joint Economic Development District, or JEDD agreement.

The monitor overseeing the implementation of a federal consent decree focused on policing reforms in Cleveland has cast doubt on the push to bring process to an end. In mid-February the city and the Department of Justice asked a judge to bring an end to the federal decree which has been in place for more than a decade.

Guests:

- Matt Richmond, Criminal Justice Reporter, Ideastream Public Media

- Abbey Marshall, Reporter, Ideastream Public Media

- Karen Kasler, Statehouse News Bureau Chief, Ohio Public/Radio TV

Last week, Buffalo Wild Wings released a wing-flavored protein-filled espresso martini that they're calling "Espresso Proteini."

But what does the science say about how much protein we actually need in our diets? Is this filling a nutritional need or is it just another food craze?

The recently-revised food pyramid from the U.S. Health and Human Services Department emphasizes protein, as well as dairy, healthy fats, fruits and vegetables as the largest categories of our diet. Previously, protein was suggested in smaller portions.

We'll start Thursday's "Sound of Ideas" by talking protein and other questions about a healthy diet.

Guest:
- Kristi Artz, M.D., Vice President & Christopher M. and Sara H. Connor Chair in Integrative Health, University Hospitals Connor Whole Health

Geauga County Maple Festival
Next in the "Sound of Ideas," we'll switch from protein to another important food group — sugar, specifically maple syrup and the people who produce it.

Geauga County is the top maple syrup producer in Ohio and is celebrating its 100th Maple Festival next month.

Maple syrup is the focus of this installment of our food series, "The Menu," which is produced in collaboration with Cleveland Magazine, which has featured reporting on maple syrup production as well as the Geauga County Maple Festival.

Guests:
- Tim Cermak, Maple Syrup Farmer, Sugarbush Creek Farm
- Marc Burr, Emcee & Board Member, Geauga County Maple Festival & Owner, Potti & Burr Funeral Homes

In fact, many people don't begin the process until well into their 60s, sometimes after a major health scare or family change forces the conversation.

But taking the time to get your affairs in order earlier can make a meaningful difference, according to experts. It gives you more control over your decisions, your assets and how you want to care for the people you love. And just as importantly, it can ease the emotional and financial burden often placed on families during an already difficult time.

Wednesday on the "Sound of Ideas," a Northeast Ohio attorney explains what you need to know about creating a will, why it matters and how to get started.

Guest:
- Helen Rapp, Staff Attorney, Economic Justice Group, The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland

Akron nonprofit organization engages students through sneaker culture
Later in the hour, a nonprofit organization in Akron is hoping to reach young people through sneaker culture — and the effort comes at a critical time.

Last summer, a mass shooting at Mason Community Learning Center left more than a dozen young people injured. In response, Akron city leaders committed $100,000 to youth sports and wellness programs and reinvested in other crime-deterring efforts.

But how can communities connect with kids before they reach a crisis point?

The Akron Sneaker Academy says its working to address this by using shoes as a gateway to hands-on learning, mentorship and exposure to science and technology.

Guests:
- Dominique Waters, Founder & Executive Director, Akron Sneaker Academy
- Michael Redovian, M.D., Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, Akron Children's Hospital

An overtime surge in the Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Office led to a legal battle over control of the sheriff’s budget. This week, it was ballooning overtime in the Cleveland Division of Police that prompted City Council scrutiny.

Ohio Sen. John Husted testified for the defense in the corruption trial of two FirstEnergy executives, and the prosecution’s final question to him incensed the defense, which accused prosecutors of misconduct.

A former Cleveland City Council member who earlier served as an advocate for lead-safe homes is now the city’s lead safety chief.

And keep your eyes peeled for Bigfoot in Portage County. There have been a number of purported sightings this week.

Guests:

- Taylor Wizner, Health Reporter, Ideastream Public Media

- Anna Huntsman, Akron/Canton Reporter, Ideastream Public Media

- Karen Kasler, Statehouse News Bureau Chief, Ohio Public Radio/TV

The 98th Academy Awards are this Sunday. Conan O’Brien returns as host for a second-annual ceremony, and this year's Oscars could break historic records.

"Sinners" leads the field with 16 nominations, while "One Battle After Another" has 13. Both films could challenge the record for most Oscars won in a single night, which currently stands at 11.

Ryan Coogler, nominated for Sinners, could become the first Black director to win Best Director. Chloé Zhao, nominated for "Hamnet," could become the first woman to win the award twice.

Who will take home the biggest awards of the night? And looking back at the past year in film, which movies deserved a little more love than they received? Thursday on the "Sound of Ideas," a panel of local cinephiles will share their thoughts.

Guests:

- Ygal Kaufman, Multiple Media Journalist, Ideastream Public Media

- George Thomas, Staff writer, Akron Beacon Journal

- Bilgesu Sisman, Director of Cinematheque, Cleveland Institute of Art

- Nat Dinga, Producer/Instructor, Tri-C Film Academy

Shuffle

Later in the hour, a new installment of "Shuffle." After decades of writing and performing folk songs across the region, Ashley Brooke Toussant found a new source of inspiration: Kids.

On this week's installment, Ideastream Public Media's Amanda Rabinowitz talked with Toussant about how elementary students contribute to her songwriting.

Guests:

- Amanda Rabinowitz, Host and Producer, "Shuffle" and "All Things Considered"

- Ashley Brooke Toussant, Singer-songwriter

With spring break here and the peak summer travel season approaching, a whopping 90% or more of Americans say they plan to travel for vacation this year.

But travel planning is being complicated by uncertainty due to several factors including current global instability due to the war in the Middle East.That conflict has led to a spike in oil prices impacting flight fares and gas prices.

The ongoing partial government shutdown has also led to longer wait times for security lines as the Transportation Security Administration deals with staffing shortages. TSA workers are currently being asked to work without pay.

Links mentioned in the discussion

State Dept. Travel Advisories

STEP Program from the U.S. Dept. of State

CDC Travel Advisories

CDC Polio Global Health Advisory

We begin the show on Wednesday with travel experts to talk about the current stressors on the travel market and answer questions you may have if you have travel plans.

Guests:

- Phil Ridolfi, Owner, The Exceptional Traveler

- Zach Wichter, Consumer Travel Reporter at USA Today

Could research into animal Alzheimer's help humans?

Alzheimer's Disease affects around 7 million Americans and is the sixth-leading cause of death in the US.

It's a very real consequence of humans' long lives compared to other animals. But other animals, like dogs, cats, pigs and chimpanzees can get Alzheimer's and researchers are studying how it affects them.

Today we'll hear a discussion about how the Alzheimer's affects chimpanzees and how that can help treat humans. Plus, we'll learn about lifestyle changes that can help reduce the risk of Alzheimer's Disease.

Guests:

- Jeff St. Clair, Host, Ideastream Public Media

- Takhar Kasumov, Ph.D., School of Biomedical Sciences, Kent State University

- Melissa Edler, Ph.D., Assistant Professor - Anthropology, Kent State University

The ongoing investigation begins our “Sound of Ideas Reporters Roundtable.”

Burke Lakefront Airport could be decommissioned to make way for trails and open space connecting the city to Lake Erie. But it could also be too expensive, environmentally complicated, or economically daunting to close the airport. Another option: keep a single runway while adding some new development. All of these ideas were discussed at a Sound of Ideas Community Tour forum inside the airport terminal this week.

Data centers consume a lot of power. Should they cover the cost, or receive tax breaks? Neighbors are raising concerns, and lawmakers are considering next steps.

And don’t forget to spring forward: clocks move ahead one hour on Sunday, which means showing up an hour late to everything on Monday.

Guests:
- Zaria Johnson, Environmental Reporter, Ideastream Public Media
- Michelle Jarboe, Reporter, News 5 Cleveland
- Karen Kasler, Statehouse News Bureau Chief, Ohio Public Radio/TV

Monday on the "Sound of Ideas," we'll discuss a new effort to tackle housing challenges in Akron that is giving residents the decision-making power.

Unify America, a national nonprofit focused on problem-solving and civic engagement, has created Northeast Ohio's first-ever civic assembly, called Unify Akron. The inaugural group of 65 residents was selected by a random lottery last week.

From now until May, the delegates will meet to review research, hear from experts and share their own experiences before voting on potential solutions.

Those recommendations will be presented to Akron Mayor Shammas Malik, city council and other elected officials. Organizers say the goal of the program is to encourage collaboration among residents and inspire leaders to consider implementing fresh ideas.

Guests:

- Morgan Lasher, Chief, U.S. Democracy Leagues, Unify America

- J. Cherie Strachan, Ph.D., Director, Bliss Institute of Applied Politics, University of Akron

- Michael Jarzenski, Delegate, Akron Civic Assembly

Summit County Prosecutor & Sheriff expand the Take Me Home program

More than 480 children on the autism spectrum were reported missing to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children in 2024. Of the 12 accidental deaths reported that same year, all were the result of drowning.

That sobering reality is part of what continues to drive the Take Me Home program in Summit County — a joint effort between the Prosecutor's Office and the Sheriff's Office. Later in the hour, we'll discuss how this program is helping save lives and reunite missing individuals with their loved ones.

Launched in 2007, the program created a database where parents and caregivers can voluntarily submit information to law enforcement about individuals with communication difficulties - with the goal of bringing those in danger home safely.

Last month, the program expanded to include individuals living with mental health conditions, behavioral disorders and substance use disorders.

Guests:

- Elliot Kolkovich, Prosecutor, Summit County

- Kelly Clark, Community Training Specialist, Autism Society of Greater Akron

The Menu: Meet Mallorca's Owner Laurie Torres

According to the Ohio Hospitality Alliance, at least 500 restaurants across the state closed last year. That's not all that surprising when you look at industry trends, and the razor thin margins that restaurants run on, with the average lifespan of a restaurant being less than10 years.

When a local restaurant makes it to 15 years, 20 years or longer, that's something special.

That's the case with Mallorca, which opened nearly 30 years ago in Downtown Cleveland. That establishment specializes in Spanish and Portuguese food and was just nominated by the James Beard Foundation.

To end the hour, we're joined by Laurie Torres, owner of Mallorca. Torres was recently interviewed by Cleveland Magazine as part of their "Word of Mouth" series, and joins "The Menu" today.

"The Menu" is our bi-weekly series produced in conjunction with Cleveland Magazine where we explore Northeast Ohio's food scene.

Guest:

- Laurie Torres, Owner, Mallorca

Senior citizens have long been the focus of consumer protection efforts due to scammers preying on them using fear and high-pressure techniques to get at their money and personal information. But the rise of artificial intelligence and people spending more time online, has helped to reshape the narrative as increasingly, even younger, digital savvy people are also becoming victims.

According to the Better Business Bureau of Cleveland, younger adults are scammed more often but older adults suffer larger money losses.

Cuyahoga County Scam Squad

This week the focus is on consumer protection and educating people on how to spot scams through National Consumer Protection Week, but the awareness is needed year round. Experts say it is becoming more difficult to determine what is real and what is a scam.

We're going to talk about scams and how to protect your money and personal information to begin today's show.

Call the Cuyahoga Scam Squad at 216-443-SCAM (7226) to talk with an investigator 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday.

Guests:
-Sheryl Harris, Director, Dept. of Consumer Affairs, Cuyahoga County
-Katie Hills, Marketing Director, Better Business Bureau Cleveland

The Future of Burke Lakefront
Burke Lakefront Airport is full of contradictions. Corporate executives fly in and out on private jets, yet it's partially built with dredged up dirt and trash from the Cuyahoga River.

It was hailed in 1947 when it opened as the nation's downtown airport, but usage has been steadily declining for years.

The Cleveland International Airshow is a large economic driver, but only occupies the airport a few days each Labor Day weekend.

There's been a long-running debate over what to do with the airport, with Mayor Justin Bibb saying it's a goal of his to close Burke and transform the land.

Wednesday night, the next "Sound of Ideas Community Tour" tackles what to do with Burke. Next in the hour, we'll look back at the history of the airport and discuss what's currently underway.

Guest:
- Steve Litt, Freelance Reporter covering art, architecture and economic development, Ideastream Public Media

The U.S. is now four days into its war against Iran, jointly with the Israeli military, and without congressional approval.

Casualties so far include some U.S. service members and hundreds of Iranians, including the country's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Khamenei ruled for 36 years and built Iran into a powerful anti-U.S. adversary, while suppressing opposition at home with digital surveillance, mass arrests and lethal force.

Following the U.S. strike on Iran, the conflict has spread to other Middle East countries, including Lebanon and Cyprus, causing the International Committee of the Red Cross to say civilian lives across the region are in grave danger.

The Trump administration has sent mixed messages over its basis for attacking Iran, with President Donald Trump on one hand, urging the Iranian people to take over their government, while on the other, insisting this war was not about a regime change, but about nuclear and ballistic missile capability.

Trump said Monday, "An Iranian regime armed with long-range missiles and nuclear weapons would be an intolerable threat to the Middle East but also to the American people. Our country itself would be under threat and it was very nearly under threat."

We'll start Tuesday's "Sound of Ideas" talking about the war with Iran, including how we got here and what happens next.

Guest:

- Avi Cover, Law Professor & Director, Institute for Global Security Law & Policy, Case Western Reserve University

Remembering WAKC

Thirty years ago, Akron lost its only TV newsroom. After struggling for years to compete with Cleveland television, WAKC was sold and the new owners dropped local programming.

The close-knit staff from WAKC, and WAKR radio, gather each year to reminisce about their time covering the Rubber City.

Ideastream Public Media's Kabir Bhatia visited their reunion in 2016, and turned it into an audio postcard.

Guest:

- Kabir Bhatia, Senior Arts Reporter, Ideastream Public Media

In February, "Ideastream Explores: Artificial Intelligence" covered the myriad ways AI is rapidly evolving and changing our lives.

It's impacting how students learn, reshaping the workforce, and we're learning more and more about the environmental costs of data centers and the massive processing power needed for generative AI programs.

Ideastream hosted a "Sound of Ideas Community Tour" at the Idea Center and took part in another live event as well, about the intersection of journalism and artificial intelligence and concerns the public has about how we might be using it and what guardrails we’re setting in place.

The Akron Press Club has pulled together a panel today to talk about the choices newsroom are making and what the next generation of journalists are being taught about AI.

Guests:

- Andrew Meyer, Deputy Editor, Ideastream Public Media

- Phil Trexler, Editor-in-Chief, The Marshall Project - Cleveland

- Mizell Stewart, Professor-in-Residence, Kent State University

Colorectal Cancer Rates

Colorectal cancer is now the leading cause of cancer deaths among people younger than 50 in the United States, according to the Journal of the American Medical Association. The recent deaths of actors James Van Der Beek and Catherine O'Hara have brought renewed attention to the disease.

While most cases still occur in people over 50, rates among younger adults are rising. Screening guidelines from the American Cancer Society adopted in 2018 now recommend that average-risk adults begin screening at 45 instead of 50.

Colorectal cancer is highly treatable when detected early, and experts say screening options, including colonoscopies and at-home stool tests, are saving lives.

Guests:

- Joshua Sommovilla, M.D., Colon and Rectal Surgical Oncologist, Cleveland Clinic

- Mengdan Xie, M.D., Gastroenterology, MetroHealth

- Amy Fogerty, Teacher, Shaker Heights High School

Planners say they're open to all ideas for how to use the 450 acres of prime real estate.

But closing the airport, which Mayor Justin Bibb is pushing for, is not a done deal. City Council is holding committee hearings and needs to agree, and the feds must sign off.

The story begins our “Sound of Ideas Reporters Roundtable.”

It will also be the topic of our next Community Tour on March 4 at Burke Lakefront Airport.

A Republican lawmaker has introduced a bill that would punish colleges and universities that don't comply with Senate Bill 1 by withholding their state money. The law went into effect last June to remove what supporters say is “liberal bias" on campus. Among the law's many provisions is a ban on most diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. This new bill is touted as an accountability measure to assure schools are actually complying and not just checking a box.

Ohio is on track to join a number of states that have banned ranked choice voting. The House this week voted on a bill that prevents local governments from using the system.

We got more details this week about how the Akron School District will slash $11 million from its budget this year, with more to come, after the superintendent briefed the board of education this week.

The courts are still deciding whether Ohio can fund sports facilities, including the new Browns stadium, from the state's unclaimed funds account. But since the legislature voted to create a pool to fund not only the Browns stadium but others, the line is already out the door with sports teams seeking cash.

Guests:

-Glenn Forbes, Deputy Editor for News, Ideastream Public Media

-Anna Huntsman, Akron-Canton Reporter, Ideastream Public Media

-Karen Kasler, Statehouse News Bureau Chief, Ohio Public Radio/TV

The report also highlights the rollout of the JobsOhio Relocation Incentive Program, which offers businesses up to $15,000 for making successful hires in certain industries, with a focus on STEM and technical roles.

There's also the expansion of LayerZero, a manufacturer for power systems like data centers. The company is opening a new facility in Portage County that expects to create 535 new jobs.

At the same time, new federal trade policies could affect Northeast Ohio's economic outlook. A 10% U.S. tariff on most global imports took effect Tuesday, despite President Donald Trump's earlier pledge to set the rate at 15%.

And findings from the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland say that tariffs are contributing to price increases across Ohio and parts of Pennsylvania, Kentucky and West Virginia. Manufacturers and retailers add that their products cost more to make, so consumers are paying more.

On Thursday’s the “Sound of Ideas,” Team NEO CEO Matt Dolan joins the program to discuss what the report’s findings mean for Northeast Ohioans and the state economy.

Guest:
- Matt Dolan, CEO, Team NEO

2026 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Nominees
Later in the hour, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Nominees are here, and we'll discuss who made the cut. Of this year's 17 nominees, 10 are appearing on the ballot for the first time.

Here are the nominees:
- The Black Crowes
- Jeff Buckley
- Mariah Carey
- Phil Collins
- Melissa Etheridge
- Lauryn Hill
- Billy Idol
- INXS
- Iron Maiden
- Joy Division/New Order
- New Edition
- Oasis
- P!NK
- Sade
- Shakira
- Luther Vandross
- Wu-Tang Clan

Guest:
- Kabir Bhatia, Senior Arts Reporter, Ideastream Public Media

Shuffle
To close the program, we'll hear a new installment of "Shuffle."

Akron musician Brett Auerbach once drove 15 hours for a 30-minute gig. It was a gamble that helped launch his band, Rye Valley, onto national tours.

This week, Ideastream Public Media's Amanda Rabinowitz talked with Auerbach about the journey, and how it led him to create a space for other songwriters in Northeast Ohio.

Guests:
- Amanda Rabinowitz, Host, Ideastream Public Media
- Brett Auerbach, Musician, Rye Valley

"Our nation is back," that was the topline message from President Donald Trump in his marathon and at times combative State of the Union speech Tuesday night.

The speech clocked in at 108 minutes, which broke his previous record set last year when his speech before Congress came in at 100 minutes.

Trump lavished praise on his administration and GOP lawmakers for their accomplishments of the last year.

He also openly scolded Democrats who were at the speech for failing to show any support. Some Democrats skipped the speech for a separate "Peoples' State of the Union" protest.

During the speech, the president chided the Supreme Court justices who were present. He's been openly critical of the 6-3 decision last week that went against him when the court ruled he exceeded his legal authority on tariffs.

The speech at times also played like an awards ceremony with several guests being honored, including bestowing the Presidential Medal of Freedom on the USA men's hockey team goalie. The team won gold over Canada at the Olympics last weekend.

Gold was also the message for voters and Americans too, as the midterm election cycle begins. The president described this as a new "golden age" for the United States.

Today, we will drill down on the speech and the politics of this moment as the midterm election cycle gets underway.

Guests:

- Tom Sutton, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus of Political Science, formerly at Baldwin Wallace University

- Rob Walgate, President, American Policy Roundtable

-David Cohen, Ph.D., Professor of political science, Director of the Applied Politics Program, University of Akron

-Stephanie Howse-Jones, Cleveland City Council Member, Ward 8

The story begins our discussion of the week’s news on the “Sound of Ideas” Reporters Roundtable.

Cuyahoga County Sheriff Harold Pretel filed a lawsuit this week claiming County Executive Chris Ronayne's office has no right to take over financial control of his department. It's the latest salvo in a long-standing conflict over spending in the sheriff's department, where overtime has ballooned.

Employees of Lorain County's Department of Job and Family Services went on strike Wednesday morning after contract talks failed to reach a new deal. The previous contract for employees, represented by United Auto Workers Local 2192, expired in September.

Ohio has expanded its quarantine for the spotted lanternfly to all counties in the state. The invasive species was first spotted in Ohio in 2020. State officials say there’s no need to report the bugs any longer. If you see one, squash it.

Two Ohio lawmakers want to punish people who don't heed crossing guards. House Bill 690 would also levy penalties for harassing, threatening or intimidating crossing guards.

A year-long celebration of Lorain native Toni Morrison began this week. Morrison, who once worked for the Lorain Public Library, was celebrated for her novels, children's books, and plays. She won the Pulitzer Prize in 1988 for her novel 'Beloved' - and this year's celebration shares that name.

Guests:

-Matt Richmond, Criminal Justice Reporter, Ideastream Public Media

-Kabir Bhatia, Sr. Arts Reporter, Ideastream Public Media

-Karen Kasler, Statehouse News Bureau Chief, Ohio Public Radio/TV

One of Ohio's oldest colleges, Case Western Reserve University, just turned 200 this month. It traces its founding to Western Reserve College in Hudson in 1826, named after the region which was known then as the Western Reserve of Connecticut.

At the time, Northeast Ohio's population was growing, and the Industrial Revolution was leading to opportunities for technical and scientific advancement in Cleveland, with the help of philanthropists like Leonard Case Jr.

200 years later, colleges and universities across the country are facing a completely different environment, from threats to federal and state funding, major enrollment decline, population loss in Ohio and changing attitudes over whether a four-year degree is worth the cost of admission amid major workforce changes and the rapid integration of artificial intelligence. Several long-standing universities in Ohio have had to merge, severely cut staff and programs or close completely as they deal with financial uncertainty and debt.

On Thursday's "Sound of Ideas," we'll start by talking to Case Western Reserve University President, Eric Kaler, about the role of higher education today, and how he plans to not only weather the current storm but lead on a global level. Case Western Reserve University was recently named one of the top 30 colleges in the world by Time Magazine.

Guests:
- Eric Kaler, Ph.D., President, Case Western Reserve University

Frederick Douglass' historic speech resonates today
The power of education and the ability of young people to reshape the world were among the broader themes of a historic commencement speech delivered by abolitionist Frederick Douglass in Hudson in 1854 at what was then known as Western Reserve College.

The speech sharply debunked so-called scientific racism, the belief that different racial and ethnic groups have innately differing levels of physical, intellectual and moral development that distinguish them as superior or inferior. Douglass' words are getting renewed attention in an award-winning documentary that features academy students.

The film, "Just and Perfect" is being shown as part of this year's multi-city Black History Festival which begins this weekend.

CeCe Payne the writer and producer of the film, and Iiyannaa Graham-Siphanoum, the Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging for Western Reserve Academy spoke to us recently about the film and how the speech still connects to students today.

We originally had this conversation on Jan. 21 in advance of an event at the school commemorating the speech and a campus visit by a descendant of Frederick Douglass.

That show was pre-empted by President Trump's speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos Switzerland.

Guests:
- CeCe Payne, Writer & Producer, "Just and Perfect"
- Iiyannaa Graham-Siphanoum, Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging, Western Reserve Academy

The Menu: Fish Fry

Lent began this week. It's the 40-day reflective period observed by Catholics and with that another cherished community tradition has returned as well: fish fry season.

From church halls to local breweries, diners will be filling plates with beer-battered cod, fried Lake Erie perch, pierogies and coleslaw.

We're talking fish fries on this installment of The Menu, our biweekly look at Northeast Ohio's food scene in partnership with Cleveland Magazine.

We're going to talk about where to participate, what to expect, and why this tradition continues to bring people together year after year.

Guest:
- Dillon Stewart, Editor, Cleveland Magazine

The 2026 Winter Olympics are well underway in Milan, marking the Games' return to Italy for the first time since 2006. The theme of this year's Opening Ceremony was harmony, or "armonia" in Italian, a message of unity on a global stage.

But as American athletes chase medals abroad, the political climate at home is anything but harmonious. President Donald Trump has just marked his first year back in office, as a partial government shutdown continues and mass deportation efforts expand nationwide.

Some U.S. athletes competing in these Winter Games have acknowledged the complicated emotions they're navigating while representing their country.

Freestyle skier Chris Lillis said he feels "heartbroken" about what's happening in the United States. His teammate, Hunter Hess, said representing the U.S. "brings up mixed emotions" and that it's "a little hard."

Trump responded on Truth Social, calling Hess a "real loser." In the days that followed, additional Team USA athletes came to Hess' defense.

Beyond the U.S., global conflicts continue to unfold. Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine has entered its fourth year. Fighting continues in Gaza despite a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. And in Sudan, a devastating civil war has created one of the world's worst humanitarian crises to date.

Wednesday on the "Sound of Ideas," we'll explore the intersection of politics and the Olympics. The International Olympic Committee, or IOC, maintains a firm stance against the politicization of sport. But have the Games ever truly been apolitical? Our experts weigh in.

Guests:

- Leslie Heaphy, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Sports History, Kent State University

- Kathryn Lavelle, Ph.D., Professor in World Affairs, Case Western Reserve University

Akron Roundtable celebrates 50 years

In today's fragmented and divisive political landscape, many find it more important than ever for communities to come together to have an open dialogue about ideas of global, national and regional importance.

The Akron Roundtable has been promoting community dialogue for the past 50 years, ever since it was established in 1976. To date, it has hosted nearly 480 speakers from a variety of fields.

Closing out Wednesday's show, we’ll hear more about its history and how it is celebrating 50 years of public forums with the president of the Akron Roundtable, Curtis Minter Jr., and tomorrow's event speaker, Brian Windhorst.

To register for luncheon, visit the Akron Roundtable website. The conversation will also air live on 89.7 WKSU at 8 p.m. on March 5.

Guests:

- Curtis Minter Jr., President, Akron Roundtable

- Brian Windhorst, Senior NBA Reporter, ESPN

Other historic wins included the first Muslim woman elected to statewide office in the U.S. in Virginia, the first Muslim elected mayor in New York City, and the first woman elected mayor of Detroit. All of those were wins for the Democratic party.

This year, Ohio has the chance to make history with the two major candidates running for Ohio governor from both parties. On the Republican side, the leading candidate who has already been endorsed by the Ohio Republican party and President Donald Trump, is entrepreneur and former presidential candidate, Vivek Ramaswamy. He would be the first governor of Indian descent and Hindu faith in Ohio if elected.

On the Democratic side, the only candidate on the primary ballot is Dr. Amy Acton, a physician who served as the former state health director. She would be the first woman elected governor and person of Jewish faith in Ohio if she won.

Late last year, we had conversations with both candidates, and we thought as the primary approaches, we would reshare those conversations on Tuesday's "Sound of Ideas." Military and overseas absentee voting begins on March 20, with early in person voting starting April 7.

Guests:

- Dr. Amy Acton, M.D., Democratic candidate for Ohio governor

- Vivek Ramaswamy, Republican candidate for Ohio governor

Lead can cause permanent neurological damage in children, and Cleveland has been working for years to remove lead from its older housing stock and the city's health director says there is actually promising news: Testing has shown for the second straight year a reduction in lead levels for kids.

The story begins our discussion of the week’s top news on the Friday “Sound of Ideas Reporters Roundtable.”

Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne wants to take control of finances for the county sheriff's department as overtime costs there soar. The sheriff has said he'll sue if that happens.

Cuyahoga County prosecutors argued before the Ohio Supreme Court on Feb.11 that a murder conviction is appropriate for the man who struck and killed Cleveland Johnny Tetrick as the firefighter was responding to an accident on I-90. Leander Bissell was convicted of murder, but an appeals court reduced it to involuntary manslaughter. Bissell struck Tetrick as he drove around stopped traffic at an accident scene.

A federal judge yesterday denied the Trump administration's request to pause a ruling that allows Haitians in the U.S. under Temporary Protected Status to maintain that status. Thousands of Haitians with such protection live in Springfield. The administration's appeal continues.

The Trump administration announced yesterday it was ending its immigration surge in Minneapolis. Border czar Tom Homan called Operation Metro Surge a success. Two U.S. citizens were killed, and widespread protests gripped the city. Homan credited coordination with local law enforcement as a factor in the operation's success.

Protests continue across the country, including locally, where Thursday students at Cleveland Heights High School staged a long-planned walk out to show solidarity with immigrant families impacted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Many of those participating have direct ties to immigrant communities and want schools to be safe spaces.

This week, Akron became the latest city to oppose proposed bills in the Ohio legislature that would require local police to help with federal immigration enforcement.

The College of Wooster is cutting staff in response to shrinking enrollment. President Anne McCall announced that the school is laying off 22 non-faculty staff.

It's almost time for public schools to submit their budget forecasts to the state for approval and the districts in Cleveland and Akron say they'll need to make significant cuts over the next several years, despite already going through consolidation and collecting more money from taxpayers with levies.

More than half of the public school districts in Ohio, part of a coalition called Vouchers Hurt Ohio, are suing the state over how it funds schools, diverting money to vouchers for private schools. Lawmakers who approve of the vouchers say they allow families to have education choice. A new bill introduced in Columbus would allow the state to yank funding from districts that sue.

Guests:

-Abigail Bottar, Reporter, Ideastream Public Media

-Conor Morris, Education Reporter, Ideastream Public Media

-Karen Kasler, Statehouse News Bureau Chief, Ohio Public Radio/TV

No matter where you went to school, there is one task that has united most of us in misery — homework.

Perhaps you remember staying up all night writing an essay on a Shakespeare play that you, of course, waited until the last minute to read. Or maybe you remember those grueling hours at the dinner table, as a parent helped with impossible algebra homework.

Today's students have a different tool to help with their assignments — artificial intelligence.

A report from the digital rights nonprofit Center for Democracy and Technology last year found 85% of teachers and 86% of students reported using AI in the classroom.

Students can now use AI to summarize complicated texts and even write entire essays for them. They can type a math problem or chemistry equation into Chat GPT or Gemini and have it solved instantly, no hour-long sessions with a parent needed.

Educators and parents have mixed feelings about the prevalence of artificial intelligence in the classroom. It's even prompted the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce to require all public K-12 school districts to adopt official AI policies by July.

But what do high schoolers think about AI? How is it shaping their learning and outlook of their futures?

Reporter Anna Huntsman has been traveling to schools in Northeast Ohio to find the answer to that question, and she'll share what she's learned on Tuesday’s “Sound of Ideas,” as part of our week-long series, Ideastream Explores: Artificial Intelligence.

Artificial intelligence pioneer discusses the origins of machine learning

Later in the hour, early research in artificial intelligence used the human brain as a model for building machines that could understand language — today's large language models, or LLM's.

Computational neuroscientist Dr. Terrence Sejnowski at the Salk Institute in San Diego is a pioneer in the field.

He spoke with Ideastream's Jeff St. Clair about the links between humans and artificial intelligence and the push to build even smarter machines.

Guests:

- Lauren Angelone, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Science Education and Instructional Technology, Xavier University

- Joseph South, Ph.D., Chief Innovation Officer, ISTE + ASCD

- Adam Lockwood, Ph.D., Associate Professor of School Psychology, Kent State University

- Terrence Sejnowski, Ph.D., Author, "ChatGPT and the Future of AI"

- Anna Huntsman, Reporter, Ideastream Public Media

- Jeff St. Clair, Midday Host, Ideastream Public Media

We will begin Friday’s “Sound of Ideas Reporters Roundtable” with a discussion in how officials are responding to reports of a potential immigration enforcement surge, and what residents are doing to prepare for the worse.

Former Cuyahoga County Domestic Relations Court Judge Leslie Ann Celebrezze pleaded guilty to a felony count of tampering with records, acknowledging she steered a divorce case to her own docket and made it appear the assignment was random. She then appointed a close friend as a receiver, a role that had earned the friend hundreds of thousands of dollars over the years.

The bribery trial of two top FirstEnergy executives began in Akron. In opening statements, defense attorneys argued that payments made to the state’s top utilities regulator were legitimate business expenses and portrayed the regulator — who later died by suicide — as a corrupt official who stole the money.

Cleveland will take a new approach to responding to mental health crises, one that does not involve police, after City Council passed Tanisha’s Law.

And the Cavaliers shaved three players in recent trades and added a new beard.

Guests:

- Josh Boose, Supervising Producer - Newscasts, Ideastream Public Media

- Abbey Marshall, Reporter/Producer, Ideastream Public Media

- Karen Kasler, Statehouse News Bureau Chief, Ohio Public Radio/TV

Northeast Ohio is home to the largest population of Slovenians outside of Slovenia, roughly 47,000 people. It's no surprise that it's also home to the largest winter festival celebrating Slovenian arts and culture outside of that European country.

Cleveland Kurentovanje, also known as the Slovenian Mardi Gras, begins this weekend. Its a multi-day festival that celebrates the end of winter and the beginning of spring. The festival has been volunteer-run for 14 years, and is a program of the Slovenian Museum and Archives, which has a new exhibit part of the festival celebrating the life and legacy of one famous Clevelander of Slovenian and Serbian heritage — George Voinovich, who was a Republican mayor of Cleveland, governor of Ohio and U.S. senator.

The exhibit is called "Together We Can Do It!" and honors Voinovich's passion for public service and global cooperation. On Thursday's "Sound of Ideas," we'll learn more about the festival and exhibit by hearing from some of the organizers joining me in studio.

Guests:

- Suzana Češarek, Consul General of the Republic of Slovenia in Cleveland

- Greg Nosan, President, Slovenian Museum & Archives

- Kathy Walters, Member, Cleveland Kurentavanje Executive Committee

Terry Pluto's new book on the Browns

Sports commentator Terry Pluto has a new book out that builds on previous releases "False Start" and "Browns Blues" and arrives at another turning point for the Browns.

With a new head coach, a reshuffled team, and a new stadium on the way, Pluto explores the questions fans never stop asking, such as "Why can't the Browns find their quarterback?," "When will there be a Super Bowl run," and "Why does this team still inspire such fierce loyalty?"

People may know Terry Pluto from his weekly "View from Pluto" segment with Ideastream "All Things Considered" host Amanda Rabinowitz. He's also a longtime columnist for The Plain Dealer, and formerly for the Akron Beacon Journal. Pluto will talk about his new book, and the moment Browns fans find themselves in.

Guest:

- Terry Pluto, Sports Commentator & Author, "Why Can’t This Team Just Find a Quarterback?”

The Menu: Sports Bars

Later in the show, regardless of how they're playing, many folks still tune in to watch the Browns each week. And that's good news for Cleveland's bars and restaurants.

Whether it's to watch that team win or lose, or watch a Guardians game in the summer, a Major League Soccer game or even just get a basket of chicken wings, the sports bar remains a reliable fixture in Northeast Ohio.

But is the sports bar still just cheap Budweiser's and guys yelling at a TV, or is it morphing into something else?

On this week's installment of "The Menu," our food series in collaboration with Cleveland Magazine, we'll discuss a new sports bar in Lakewood, just ahead of the Olympics kicking off this Friday, and the Superbowl taking place on Sunday.

Guests:

- Will Hollingsworth, Owner, Buildings and Food

All eyes have been on Minneapolis in recent weeks, following the deployment of large numbers of ICE and Customs and Border Protection agents to the area in December.

The heightened federal presence has coincided with deadly use-of-force incidents that have ignited national concern, including the fatal shootings of ICU nurse Alex Pretti on Jan. 24 and poet and mother of three Renée Nicole Good on Jan. 7.

Those and other deaths, as well as the federal government's handling of the investigations, have become focal points of protests, calls for accountability, and broader debates about public safety and civil liberties.

Earlier this week, the "Sound of Ideas" Host Stephanie Haney spoke with Minnesota Star Tribune Opinion Editor Phillip Morris. Morris is also a former longtime columnist for the Cleveland Plain Dealer. He shared what he's been seeing on the ground and his thoughts on the broader political and legal ramifications to come.

Wednesday's show will start with that conversation, then we'll turn to Springfield, Ohio, where Gov. Mike DeWine recently warned of a potential ICE operation coming to central Ohio. More than 12,000 Haitian immigrants with temporary legal status were about to see their protections end this week, before a judge delayed that order Monday.

Guest:

- Phillip Morris, Opinion Editor & Vice President, Minnesota Star Tribune

Judge ruling keeps legal protections for Springfield's Haitian immigrants intact

Springfield, Ohio is home to a large Haitian immigrant community living with Temporary Protected Status.

TPS is a federal designation that allows people from countries facing extraordinary conditions such as natural disasters or ongoing instability, to live and work legally in the U.S.

For Haitians, that protection was first granted after a massive earthquake in 2010 and has been renewed several times amid continued political and humanitarian crises, such as the assassination of Haiti's president in 2021.

The most recent extension was set to expire on Feb. 3. But on Monday, a federal district judge temporarily blocked the Trump administration from ending TPS. In addition, residents are bracing for a possible ICE enforcement operation reported to begin today.

According to the Department of Homeland Security, as of Dec. 16, ICE agents have arrested at least 280 residents in Columbus and the surrounding area, in what has been called Operation Buckeye.

Guests:

- Kathryn Mobley, Education and Politics Reporter, WYSO

- Heather Prendergast, Immigration Attorney, Aljijakli, Kosseff & Prendergast, LLC

- Marjory Wentworth, Leadership Team Member, Springfield G92

- Viles Dorsainvil, Executive Director, Haitian Community Help and Support Center

Recently, there have been reports of people in Northeast Ohio claiming to be sovereign citizens, particularly when interacting with the police. At the highest level, people who identify as sovereign citizens generally refuse to follow laws, reject court rulings and believe they are not required to comply with federal, state and local authorities.

This has been reported to show up as refusing to pay taxes, rejecting driver's licenses, filing frivolous lawsuits, and creating counterfeit documents, among other things.

In Monday's installment of our "Law of the Land" series on the "Sound of Ideas," where we look at how laws affect our every day lives, we're focusing on this anti-government set of beliefs. The ideas are prominent enough that they've gotten the attention of the Ohio Statehouse, where two representatives have proposed legislation aimed at discouraging people from refusing to identify themselves to police, while driving.

Guests:

- Eric Taylor, Sergeant, Parma Heights Police Department

- Raymond Ku, Law Professor, Case Western Reserve University School of Law

- Ric Simmons, Law Professor, The Ohio State University Michael E. Moritz College of Law

School Funding Proposals

Many homeowners had sticker shock when their property tax valuations landed in mailboxes last year. Taxes in some municipalities increased more than 20%, which has led to lawmakers working on how to provide property tax relief for Ohioans.

But this has the potential to cause complications for school districts across the state, who rely heavily on property taxes for the majority of their funding. Several districts in Northeast Ohio have already posed new ideas on how to fund their schools, one of which is a new income tax.

Ideastream's Education Reporter Conor Morris joins the "Sound of Ideas" on Monday to talk about this topic, and share some of the reporting he's done across the region.

Guests:

- Conor Morris, Education Reporter, Ideastream Public Media

- Julie Erwin, Treasurer, New Philadelphia City Schools

Concern is now ramping up in Ohio, where there's concern that a surge of immigration enforcement is coming to Springfield, near Dayton. The temporary protected status of thousands of Haitian refugees living there is set to expire on Feb. 3.

We will begin Friday’s “Sound of Ideas Reporters Roundtable” with a discussion in how leaders are preparing for a possible enforcement in Ohio.

Jury selection began this week in the trial of two former FirstEnergy executives accused of being the architects of the House Bill 6 bribery scandal in which they bribed politicians and got legislation passed that bailed out their financially struggling nuclear power plants.

The trial is expected to last for two months and opening statements could happen as soon as Jan. 30.

The deep freeze over the last week will stay around, without an invitation, as we flip to February. It's the longest stretch of arctic temperatures we've seen here in years.

The deep cold also made it tough to dig out from last weekend's heavy snowstorm and complicated plowing roads. A combination of the numbing cold and icy roads led to schools closing for several days. Will students have to make up those days?

During this cold weather, owners have been warned in several Ohio counties -- including Summit and Cuyahoga -- to bring animals indoors. Cuyahoga County's prosecutor has formed a specialized unit to deal with that, and other kinds, of animal cruelty.

Northeast Ohio cities are starting to see the boon promised by the sale of recreational marijuana, legalized by voters in 2023. Sales began the next year, and cities are now seeing the first proceeds from the first year-plus of sales.

Dr. Tom Mihaljevic, president and chief executive officer of the Cleveland Clinic, said the Clinic made money last year and did better financially than forecasted, and said he believes there is capacity in the community for the Clinic to build a Level 1 trauma center, though there are already two in Cleveland.

Guests:

-Andrew Meyer, Deputy Editor for News, Ideastream Public Media

-Zaria Johnson, Reporter, Ideastream Public Media

-Karen Kasler, Statehouse News Bureau Chief, Ohio Public Radio/TV

Videos of the deaths of two American citizens, Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti at the hands of federal immigration officers in Minneapolis this month have caused outrage in communities across the country.

The deaths occurred amid protests over President Donald Trump's deployment of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, in Democratic-controlled cities. Critics have pointed out contradictions in the Trump administration's justification of the killing - painting the victims as safety threats, versus the bystander footage.

Some lawmakers across the country, including a growing number of Republicans, such as Ohio U.S. Senator Jon Husted and Bay Village Congressman Max Miller have called for a thorough investigation into the incident.

Democrats have called for the impeachment and removal of Kristi Noem, U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary.

And citizens across the country, including a coalition of Cleveland religious leaders, students and activists have announced plans to join a general strike Jan. 30 that calls for the abolition of ICE.

Thursday on the "Sound of Ideas," we're going to discuss the latest events in Minneapolis, and how communities in Ohio are responding. We'll also learn what rights people have when encountering ICE with an immigration lawyer.

Guests:

- Ayla Blumenthal, Immigration attorney, Margaret W. Wong & Associates

- Jeff Wensing, President, Ohio Education Association

- U.S. Rep. Max Miller, 7th District of Ohio

"The Menu" looks at the best new dining options in 2026

Later in the hour, we'll get another installment of "The Menu", our food series that's produced in partnership with the folks at Cleveland Magazine.

The menu debuted in 2025 - and we heard from chefs and small business owners, celebrated regional restaurants, and looked at the biggest food trends in Northeast Ohio.

In this episode, we'll hear about the best eats for 2026.

Guest:

- Dillon Stewart, Editor, Cleveland Magazine

"Shuffle" music podcast

Finally this hour, Frida Mann always wanted to pursue music, but that was at odds with her Orthodox Jewish lifestyle.

Eventually, she could no longer fight that urge to sing, and she is now on a journey toward independence and self-expression. On this week's Shuffle, Ideastream Public Media's Amanda Rabinowitz talks with Mann about how music helped her navigate that path.

Guests:

- Amanda Rabinowitz, Host, Ideastream Public Media

- Frida Mann, Musician

If you are a millennial, you likely remember dial-up internet, flip phones and being told that education was the key to stability. But for many born between 1981 and 1996, adulthood arrived with the Great Recession, student loan debt and a job market filled with uncertainty.

Those factors may help explain why this generation reports higher levels of anxiety, depression and burnout than previous generations.

Not everyone who experiences mental health challenges is willing to seek help, especially men. Some mental health professionals hope to reach reluctant men, particularly millennial men, where they are.

Wednesday on the “Sound of Ideas,” local experts will explore the mental health challenges facing this group and what meaningful change could look like.

Guests:

- Jake Ross, Licensed Independent Social Worker & Owner, The Ross Wellness Group

- Walter Patton, Executive Director, Ghetto Therapy

- Neel Parekh, M.D., Clinical Assistant Professor, Urology, Cleveland Clinic

- Jessica Vazquez, Prevention & Wellness Manager, School Health Program, MetroHealth

"Missing Sam" by Thrity Umrigar

Later in the hour, we're joined by Northeast Ohioan and best-selling author Thrity Umrigar. Her latest novel centers on a woman named Sam from Cleveland Heights who goes missing during an early morning run. Her wife, Ali, is shaken by the disappearance and suspected by some in the community.

Ideastream Public Media’s Carrie Wise spoke with Umrigar about “Missing Sam,” which explores how prejudice can spread in the wake of a tragedy.

Guests:

- Thrity Umrigar, Author, "Missing Sam"

- Carrie Wise, Deputy Editor of Arts & Culture, Ideastream Public Media

Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority says it wants to make commuting easier for people who use the bus line on West 25th Street in Cleveland's Ohio City neighborhood with a plan that would require getting rid of certain parking spots along the way.

Tuesday on the "Sound of Ideas," we'll hear why some business owners are rejecting this plan, along with why a group of residents support the project. We'll also learn why GCRTA says any changes to this plan could derail other improvements in the city.

Guests:
- Sam McNulty, Owner, Market Garden Brewery
- Emily Harper, Member, Clevelanders for Public Transit
- Zaria Johnson, Reporter, Ideastream Public Media

Highlights from 2026 CES

Earlier this month, CES, formerly known as the Consumer Electronics Show, dazzled conference attendees with the latest technology available to buy. We'll end Tuesday's show with a recap of what caught one tech experts' eye, from artificial intelligence pets and combined pillow companions to wearable tech that you put on one leg at a time.

Guest:
- Jared Bendis, Digitization and New Media Specialist, Case Western Reserve University

First the good: We made it to Friday. Now the bad or not-so-great news: you may be spending this weekend indoors.

A big wave of Arctic air will send temperatures sliding downward beginning today. Then Sunday the second act moves in, a snowstorm bringing the potential for heavy snow, including here in Northeast Ohio, while in some places in the mid and deep South possible catastrophic ice accumulations are predicted.

Complicating the situation: a regional salt shortage that may impact road clearing efforts.

The story begins our discussion of the week’s news on the “Sound of Ideas Reporters Roundtable.”

Power outages could result from the winter storm this weekend but even on calm weather days, Ohio is having a hard time keeping up with rising energy demand.

One main driver of that increased demand: data centers. Columbus has become a key location for these centers, with one report concluding it's the second-largest hub in the Great Lakes region. But those centers are popping up everywhere including in Stark County for instance.

If you're heading to Downtown anytime soon, you should know that the city has updated its rates for on-street parking and enforcement. The new digital, coinless metered system will give drivers the opportunity to park at a meter for up to four hours, but at increasing hourly rates and enforcement will be extended seven days a week—except in Ohio City where Sundays will not be enforced.

Cleveland City Council members are not yet sold on the Bibb administrations "pedal to the metal" approach to shut down Burke Lakefront Airport to open the acreage to lakefront redevelopment. Mayor Justin Bibb has said he would like to see Burker shuttered by 2029.

The future of Burke Lakefront will be the topic of our next “Sound of Ideas Community Tour” on March 4.

Property owners in Ohio's largest counties are among those that will see their next property reappraisals delayed by a year. Sixteen counties including Franklin, Cuyahoga and Hamilton are pushing back the process. Cuyahoga will next appraise properties in 2031.

Fewer Ohioans are enrolled in Affordable Care Act or Obamacare plans after additional subsidies to offset costs put into effect during the pandemic expired last month.

Guests:

-Gabriel Kramer, Reporter, Ideastream Public Media

-Kelly Byer, Economic Development Reporter, The Canton Repository, USA Today Co. network

-Karen Kasler, Statehouse News Bureau Chief, Ohio Public Radio/TV

The Center for Christian Virtue began as an anti-pornography group more than 40 years, but has since become what the Cincinnati Enquirer recently called a "policy powerhouse" in the state, influencing hundreds of bills, from expanding Ohio's EdChoice voucher system to banning transgender students from using bathrooms that align with their gender identity.

The Center's President Aaron Baer spoke at The City Club of Cleveland Friday, amid protestors on the street, and following an open letter from members of the LGBTQ community and nonprofit leaders who pointed out the group's designation as an anti-LGBTQ hate group in 2023 by the Southern Poverty Law Center.

City Club CEO Dan Moulthrop said the group's major influence in shaping state laws is why he invited Baer to speak.

On Thursday's "Sound of Ideas," we're going to spend time talking about this organization and its impact in the state, and discuss the reaction to Baer's invitation and speech.

Guests:

- Jessie Balmert, State Government Reporter, Cincinnati Enquirer

- Greg Lawson, Senior Research Fellow, The Buckeye Institute

- Maria Bruno, Executive Director, Ohioans Against Extremism

- Tom Sutton, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus of Political Science, formerly at Baldwin Wallace University

On January 1, the city of Cleveland implemented new rules for street parking Downtown and in Ohio City. Paid parking hours now run from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week.

Formerly, street parking was free after 6 p.m. on weekdays and always free on weekends.

Ohio City will follow the same schedule, though Sundays will remain free. The changes include higher standard rates, with additional increases possible in special event zones.

City officials say the goal is to improve turnover and availability in high-demand areas. Some residents and business owners, however, have raised concerns about the added cost for evenings and weekends.

The changes come as downtown activity continues to rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic. According to Downtown Cleveland Inc., foot traffic and visitor activity reached more than 90% of pre-pandemic levels in 2023.

And while leisure travel has largely returned, business travel is gaining momentum too— up 7% last year and bringing nearly $200 million in revenue to Cuyahoga County.

Wednesday on the "Sound of Ideas," we'll discuss how will these changes shape daily life downtown, and what might they mean for Cleveland's future economic development.

Guests:
- Matthew Moss, Senior Strategist, Thriving Communities, City of Cleveland
- Lucas Reeve, Senior Advisor, City of Cleveland
- Sam McNulty, Co-Founder & Owner, Market Garden Brewery

Speaker revisits site of historic 1854 Frederick Douglass address

Later in the hour, we will talk about a historic speech delivered by abolitionist Frederick Douglass at Western Reserve Academy in Hudson.

Douglass' great-great-great-grandson Kenneth Morris Jr. will be at Western Reserve Academy on Jan. 23 as the capstone for the school’s weeklong observance of the life and legacy of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.

Morris will be in the same space that Douglass delivered his historic commencement address in 1854 when the site was known as Western Reserve College.

In the speech, Douglass debunked the faulty science that underpinned pro-slavery arguments.

The commencement address was the subject of an award-winning documentary, “Just and Perfect” produced by Western Reserve Academy and featured present-day students reciting portions of the speech.

We will talk to the film's writer and producer about the film and the speech.

Guests:
-CeCe Payne, Writer and Producer, “Just and Perfect,” Bicentennial Special Projects Manager, Western Reserve Academy
-Iiyannaa Graham-Siphanoum, Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging, Western Reserve Academy

Protests have erupted nationwide after Good's death, and there have been many in Northeast Ohio communities, including Cleveland, Akron and Kent.

This week, social media has been filled locally with unverified reports of ICE activities in Cleveland. Noted immigration attorney Margaret Wong said there were reports of ICE agents in Cleveland and offered advice about people's rights should ICE agents come to their door.

Cleveland Police took the extraordinary step on Wednesday to issue a statement saying it's not its job to enforce general federal immigration law.

We will begin Friday’s “Sound of Ideas Reporters Roundtable” with a discussion of CPD’s statement and rising concerns over ICE.

FirstEnergy is asking the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio to lower reliability standards for power outages, basically allowing for more outages that last longer before its determined that standards weren't met. A first hearing is scheduled for next month.

The Cleveland Clinic announced yesterday that it intends to earn certification as a Level 1 trauma center at its Main Campus by 2028, its second Level 1 trauma center in the region, after Akron General.

Cleveland Clinic main campus leader Dr. Scott Steele said he sees a need for this top tier of trauma care within the Clinic's own system. But Cleveland already has Level 1 trauma centers -- operated University Hospitals and also by MetroHealth, which called for the clinic to reconsider and claimed patient costs would rise as a result of the clinic's actions.

An effort to repeal a new state law that makes changes to the recreational marijuana statute passed by voters and also bans intoxicating hemp suffered a setback this week. A group trying to prevent Senate Bill 56 from going into effect and allow voters to decide whether to repeal it in November had its petition summary language rejected by Attorney General Dave Yost.

We've heard a lot about the Browns planned move to a new enclosed stadium in Brook Park from the Cleveland perspective. Now, we're getting a bit more insight into how the mega project could impact Brook Park. This week the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency or NOACA held a meeting about how the stadium could impact traffic.

The Canton Hall of Fame Village has secured financing that could jump start the stalled construction on a massive indoor water park. "Game Day Bay" sits at the front of the Village property was started in 2022 but has been sitting unfinished since 2024.

All this week on Ideastream Public Media you've been hearing reporting about the firefighting crisis facing Ohio. 70% of Ohio's fire departments are at least partially staffed by volunteers. Those volunteer positions are getting harder to fill as current volunteers near retirement. The reporting is a collaboration between Ideastream and The Ohio Newsroom and you'll find all the stories on our website as "Sound the Alarm".

Guests:

Glenn Forbes, Deputy Editor of News, Ideastream Public Media

Abigail Bottar, Reporter, Ideastream Public News

Karen Kasler, Statehouse News Bureau Chief, Ohio Public Radio/TV

The presumptive nominees for the two major parties finalized their tickets this week. Presumptive Republican nominee Vivek Ramaswamy, the businessman and former presidential candidate and Department of Government Efficiency partner, selected Senate President Rob McColley of Northwest Ohio as his running mate.

Dr. Amy Acton chose the former leader of the Ohio Democratic Party -- and an active fly in the Republican ointment on social media, David Pepper. Get ready for the Doctor....Pepper campaign.

State and local health experts urge us to get a flu shot, even though the shot doesn't seem to be matched up well with the current strain of virus.

Flu cases are on the rise statewide and in Northeast Ohio, flu-related hospitalizations doubled this week, according to an Ideastream report. Year-over-year cases are higher as well and we are still several weeks away from peak flu season.

And we've got measles to worry about, too. Three kids in Cuyahoga County have them.

The East Cleveland City School District is riding high after being released last month from state oversight, which had been in place for more than seven years.

Gov. Mike DeWine spent much of the week refuting what he called disinformation spread on social media alleging fraud in the state's day care system. The online videos specifically target day cares run by Somali immigrants. Ohio has the second largest population of Somalis in the nation.

Police in Akron bring their own long guns to work, but Akron's mayor says they should use only department-issued weapons. He inserted that new rule in the capital budget he submitted to city council this week. The issue of personal long guns has become a concern for community members after 15-year-old Jazmir Tucker was shot dead by an officer using his own gun in 2024.

Swearing in for Cleveland's smaller sized city council happened this week, and grumbling about leadership followed not long after. The council, slimmed down to 15 from 17 due to population declined, features 3-new members -- and one returning member who cast a no vote on a perfunctory approval of council's rules, saying leadership does not seek broad input from its members.

Guests:

-Anna Huntsman, Akron-Canton Reporter, Ideastream Public Media

-Conor Morris, Education Reporter, Ideastream Public Media

-Karen Kasler, Statehouse News Bureau Chief, Ohio Public Radio/TV

Common goals are to read more, eat healthier, start exercising or save more money. But for some, the idea of resolutions has lost its appeal altogether, abandoned amid concerns that goal setting can slip into self-criticism and harm one's mental health.

So why are resolutions so hard to keep? Should we be setting goals differently, or adjusting them throughout the year? Is making a plan and sticking to it simply harder than we expect?

On Wednesday's "Sound of Ideas," we'll explore those questions with a diverse group of experts who have set ambitious goals and kept them. We'll talk about their views on New Year's resolutions and how they approach goal setting in ways that actually last.

Guests:
- Adam Borland, Psy.D., Clinical Psychologist, Cleveland Clinic
- Katie Spotz, Endurance Athlete, Author
- Dameyonna Willis, Executive Director and Founder, Queen IAM
- Ricky Smith, Founder, Random Acts of Kindness Everywhere
- Lauren Marks, High Performance and Breathwork Life Coach

The implications of this attempted regime change are still unclear. President Donald Trump claimed Saturday that the U.S. intends to quote "run the country" until a transition of power can take place. Currently, Maduro's Vice President, Delcy Rodriguez is in charge. The White House is facing condemnation from legal experts and Democrats who argue the moves were conducted without congressional or United Nations approval, and violate U.S. and international law.

On Tuesday's "Sound of Ideas," we're going to talk about Venezuela and look ahead to the year in politics.

On a state level, Ohio has major races on the 2026 ballot from a governor's race without an incumbent to an open U.S. Senate seat, that could be one of the most closely watched races in the country. We also will see Ohio's newly-drawn congressional map in play.

And on a national level, after starting 2025 with over 50-percent approval and what President Trump deemed a mandate from voters going into his second term, he ended the year hovering around 42 percent approval, with experts noting tariffs, the economy, and rising costs of health as some of the major issues voters care about.

The party in power historically has an uphill battle in midterm elections. Could 2026 change Republican control of the three branches of power?

Guests:

- Katie Lavelle, Ph.D., Professor in World Affairs, Case Western Reserve University

- Tom Sutton, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus of Political Science, formerly at Baldwin Wallace University

- Rob Walgate, President, American Policy Roundtable

- Quentin James, Founder and President, The Collective PAC

We will begin our lookback on the Statehouse and statewide news of 2025 with the push to reform property taxes and why any reforms from lawmakers may not be enough to stall a driver to abolish the taxes.

Senate Bill 1, a higher education overhaul that targets what supporters call “liberal bias” on college campuses, went into effect in June. The bill, whose main architect is Sen. Jerry Cirino of Kirtland, targets most diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives on campuses and bans faculty strikes, among other measures.

Legal marijuana will be more tightly regulated, and intoxicating hemp like the kind sold in corner stores and gas stations, will be banned after the legislature late in 2025 addressed those issues.

Voters approved recreational marijuana in 2023 in a statute, not a constitutional amendment, allowing lawmakers to make changes.

The Ohio Redistricting Commission redrew the state's congressional district maps in 2025 because the map adopted in 2022 did not have bipartisan support, meaning it had to be redrawn instead of being in place for a decade.

The new map gives Republicans an edge in 12 of Ohio's 15 districts. The current map delivered 10 seats to Republicans. But this one did get bipartisan support on the commission because Democrats said they feared if they opposed it, and it went to the full legislature, the map would be even more lopsided in favor of Republicans.

The months-long negotiations over Ohio's new two-year operating budget dominated the work of lawmakers for the first half of 2025.

In the end, lawmakers handed off to the governor a $60 billion spending plan that flattens the state income tax, restricts the kinds of levies schools can ask voters to approve and changes the funding formula for libraries, eliminating the set percentage they received each year.

Can Ohio produce enough power to keep up with demands from both consumers and data centers? That was a big issue in 2025, as the governor signed House Bill 15 in May, addressing power generation and grid reliability.

Ohio voters approved an amendment to the state constitution, in place since 2023, protecting abortion rights and reproductive health.

That doesn't mean lawmakers opposed to abortion were going to halt their efforts to limit it. Last year, they continued to introduce legislation opponents say conflicts with the voter-approved amendment.

It's 2026 and that means big races in Ohio -- from the governor's seat with no incumbent to the Senate seat that will likely break fundraising records again -- are on the clock.

Midterms will be a huge story for 2026, and races started taking shape in 2025 with the emergence of Vivek Ramaswamy on the Republican side and Dr. Amy Acton as the apparent Democratic candidate.

Guests:

-Karen Kasler, Statehouse News Bureau Chief, Ohio Public Radio/TV

-Jo Ingles, Reporter, Ohio Public Radio/TV Statehouse News Bureau

-Sarah Donaldson, Reporter, Ohio Public Radio/TV Statehouse News Bureau

-Clare Roth, Managing Editor, The Ohio Newsroom

Sept. 2 is the 80th anniversary of the official end to World War II, weeks after fighting ended. It's the day when Japanese envoys formally signed the Instrument of Surrender aboard the U.S.S. Missouri in Tokyo Bay.

And on this important anniversary, we wanted to talk about how this war completely changed the world order, transforming the U.S. to the leader of the free world. We'll discuss Ohio's role in the fight against fascism, and how locals are helping to preserve these experiences.

Our collective memories of this war are fading, as each year, fewer and fewer people are alive to tell the stories of the men and women involved.

According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, only about 45,000 of the 16 million Americans who served are still alive, and most are in their 90s or older.

Tuesday on the “Sound of Ideas,” we'll look back on this milestone anniversary and how the echoes of World War II and the world order it created continue to influence policy and culture today.

Guests:
- Eric Rivet, Chief Curator, Western Reserve Historical Society
- Paul Farace, President, U.S.S. Cod Submarine Memorial
- Betsy Bashore, Chief Executive Officer & Vendor Coordinator, D-Day Ohio

Note: This conversation originally aired on the "Sound of Ideas" on Nov. 3, 2025.

How to manage young people's social media use is a big question, with many factors at play, including the well-being of minors, the logistics of monitoring online activity and their constitutional rights.

In Ohio, lawmakers are trying to take this matter into their own hands. One law limiting social media access is currently on hold, after a federal court blocked it as an unconstitutional restriction on First Amendment rights. That decision is now being appealed by Attorney General Dave Yost.

This year, two new bills have been introduced that would limit children's access to social media in different ways and bring app stores into the equation: Senate Bill 167 (backed by Meta) and Senate Bill 175 (backed by Google).

The topic was the first in our newly created series “Law of the Land” which explores how the law impacts your life.

Guests:

• Jonathan Entin, Professor of Constitutional Law, Case Western Reserve University School of Law

• Morgan Reed, President, The App Association

• Tony Coder, Executive Director, Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation

• Kareem Moncree-Moffett, Ph.D., Founder, Youth Lead Alliance

MLB, Ohio's Casino Control Commission and sports betting companies agree to regulation changes

Note: This conversation originally aired on the "Sound of Ideas" on Nov. 17, 2025.

Federal indictments against two Cleveland Guardians pitchers, Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz, have rocked Major League Baseball and the sports betting world. In response to these charges of rigging bets on specific pitches, MLB worked together with the Ohio Casino Control Commission and sports betting companies to come up with mutually-agreed upon new regulations governing what's known as microprop bets, limiting them considerably compared to what was allowed before.

In this installment of our "Law of the Land" series on "Sound of Ideas," we'll explain the sports betting regulation changes, and look at the other legal problems that have come up surrounding betting in Ohio in both the NFL, involving famed Cleveland Browns quarterback Bernie Kosar, and NBA, related to allegations of faking an injury to help gamblers win against Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, who is a former Shaker Heights High School basketball star, along with how and why the rules differ for college sports.

Guests:

• Joe Maloney, Senior Vice President of Strategic Communications for the American Gaming Association

• Eric Chaffee, John C. Hutchins Professor of Law at Case Western Reserve University School of Law

• Joe Scalzo, Sports Business Journalist for Crain's Cleveland Business

Over the course of the last year, Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb and Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne battled the Haslam Sports Group over everything from the Modell Law -- which is meant to make it hard for Ohio teams to move from their home cities -- to the height of the stadium to a refusal to kick in public money.

By December the fight was all but over, the Browns are moving to Brook Park, without county money but with $600 million from the state. The county remained steadfast in refusing to kick in any funding, and the Browns moved forward without it.

The story begins our retrospective of the top local stories of 2025. We will cover the top statehouse stories in a year ender that will drop next week.

The Akron Public Schools went through a rapid change of leadership in the spring after months of controversy and complaint about the actions and management style of Superintendent Michael Robinson. In April, the board accepted his resignation, after less than two years on the job. Then, it immediately hired his successor without conducting a search.

East Cleveland had had three people serving as mayor in 2025.

Brandon King, mayor when the year began, was convicted on public corruption charges in May and removed from that job. Before that, while facing trial, Sandra Morgan was appointed interim mayor. Once he was convicted, the charter called for Council President Lateek Shabazz to become the mayor. He was defeated in November by Morgan, who will return to the mayor's office.

The mayor's office in Cleveland Heights was a revolving door this year. Voters recalled the city's first elected mayor, Kahlil Seren, in September.

The recall vote resulted from a tumultuous period in Cleveland Heights City Hall that saw Seren and his wife accused of creating a hostile work environment. Seren denied those accusations.

Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase, the superstar closer, and Luis Ortiz, a starter with promise, were suspended with pay in July as part of a Major League Baseball investigation into betting.

By November, the pair had been indicted on charges they rigged pitches to help bettors win "prop" or situational bets. The two now face trial in May.

Residents around the Shaker Lakes, who already saw Horseshoe lake drained, have rallied against a proposal by the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District to drain the remaining Lower Lake and turning, that, too, into parkland.

The sewer district, responsible for spending on flood control, had planned to replace the lower lake dam, but said new data showed draining the lake would be the best, and most economical, flood control measure.

The "Sound of Ideas" brought together stakeholders for a Community Tour discussion in August.

Guests:

-Andrew Meyer, Deputy Editor of News, Ideastream Public Media

-Abbey Marshall, Reporter, Ideastream Public Media

-Anna Huntsman, Reporter, Ideastream Public Media

-Michelle Jarboe, Reporter, News 5 Cleveland

Generation X, those born roughly between 1965 and 1980, has long occupied a unique place in our cultural narrative.

These 45-to-60-year-olds are sometimes called the "forgotten" generation— caught between two larger and more-studied generations— Baby Boomers and Millennials.

Often described as independent and self-reliant, Gen X has played a pivotal role in bridging two very different worlds: the analog past and the digital present.

They came of age during a time of upheaval and transformation, witnessing the end of the Vietnam War, the fallout from the Watergate scandal and the cinematic rise of The Godfather and Star Wars.

They grew up with the debut of MTV, the dawn of the internet and the arrival of personal computers and video games in American homes.

Many Gen Xers navigated childhood with minimal supervision, earning them the nickname "Latchkey Generation." And nearly a quarter of Gen X adults are sandwiched between raising kids and caregiving older relatives, according to a study from the University of Michigan.

Monday on the "Sound of Ideas," we'll hear a conversation with former host Jenny Hamel and a panel of Gen-Xers from Northeast Ohio. They'll discuss the issues that matter most to them, from politics and social change to personal milestones like homeownership, aging and financial security.

We'll ask how they feel about the lives they've built, what concerns they carry into the future and how they see their place in the world.

Guests:
- Dan Bruce, Faculty, Cleveland State University
- Emilia Lombardi, Ph.D., Former Professor, Baldwin Wallace University
- Lora Gay, Federal Employee, Cleveland Field Office
- Lee Chilcote, Executive Director and Housing Program Manager, FutureHeights

The North Coast Waterfront Development Corporation, a nonprofit created by the city, selected DiGeronimo Development from Brecksville as the master developer for the lakefront transformation including a reimagining of the site where the current Browns stadium sits.

The stadium will be demolished after the 2029 season as the Browns depart for a new stadium complex in Brook Park.

The story begins our discussion of the week’s news stories on the “Sound of Ideas Reporters Roundtable.”

The Cleveland Teachers Union says the district needs to step up its monitoring of buildings and improve its security staffing. At least 100 teachers have had their cars broken into in school parking lots recently, and in one case a car was stolen.

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine this week told universities and colleges in the state to get fully on board with the Science of Reading literacy curriculum or face consequences.

An audit found 10 programs are not fully following a 2023 state law that requires future teachers be given instruction solely in the phonics-based system.

Ohio has joined a new voter registration database to ensure election integrity. Secretary of State Frank LaRose says the states in the database will remove ineligible or illegal voters through data sharing agreements.

The Trump administration is ending legal status for around half a million Haitians living in the U.S. by Feb. 3, including the more than 10,000 Haitians living in Ohio.

During last year's presidential campaign, President Trump shared false and derogatory claims about the Haitian community working in Springfield, southwest of Columbus, and said that immigrants were taking over the city.

Gov. DeWine, who has supported the Haitian community in Ohio, said he's concerned about what will happen to this population, and to the overall economy in Springfield.

Akron leaders say the city needs a new police headquarters. After two years of consideration Mayor Shammas Malik says the police headquarters will stay right where it is. Rather than build a new site, the Harold K. Stubbs Justice Center will undergo a $67 million dollar renovation.

This week the Cleveland Metroparks shared on Instagram photos and videos of a "fisher cat" from a trail camera earlier this year. It marked the first sighting of a fisher in Cuyahoga County in 200 years.

Fisher cats are neither fishers nor cats. They're carnivorous members of the weasel family and live in wooded areas.

Guests:

- Matt Richmond, Criminal Justice Reporter, Ideastream Public Media

- Abigail Bottar, Akron-Canton Reporter, Ideastream Public Media

- Karen Kasler, Statehouse News Bureau Chief, Ohio Public Radio/TV

It's not a surprise that many people dread winter.

The teeth-chattering temperatures, snow shoveling, and darkness of the winter months provide plenty of reasons why.

But some communities in the far north in places like Tromso, Norway, have learned to embrace their climates and actually enjoy the winter months and stretches of darkness. One health psychologist says it all starts with a shift in mindset.

Kari Leibowitz writes in "How to Winter" that learning to not view the winter months in a negative light can lead to us finding more joy and fulfillment and increasing overall happiness. She joins the "Sound of Ideas" on Thursday to explain more.

Guest:

- Kari Leibowitz, Ph.D., Author, "How to Winter: Harness Your Mindset to Thrive on Cold, Dark, or Difficult Days"

"Shuffle" podcast reflects on year of music

Later in the hour, we'll wrap up the year in local music with our final installment of our "Shuffle" music podcast for 2025. Amanda Rabinowitz and Brittany Nader share some of their favorite music from Northeast Ohio artists.

Guests:

- Amanda Rabinowitz, Host and Producer, "Shuffle" and "All Things Considered"

- Brittany Nader, Producer, "Shuffle"

In April 2017, 22-year-old Molly Jane Matheson was killed in her apartment in Fort Worth, Texas. Days later, another woman, Megan Getrum, was also killed in that area.

Those women were killed by the same man, who later pled guilty to the murders and to multiple sexual assaults committed over several years. He is serving a life sentence.

The case prompted broader questions about how systems respond to patterns of sexual violence and how earlier interventions might prevent escalation.

In the aftermath of her daughter's death, Matheson's mother founded Project Beloved, a nonprofit organization that advocates for survivors of sexual assault.

One of its key initiatives focuses on creating more trauma-informed interview spaces within police departments for survivors who are sharing their experiences with investigators.

Wednesday on the "Sound of Ideas," we'll discuss the renovation of one such interview room at the North Ridgeville Police Department in Lorain County.

Guests:
- Tracy Matheson, President and Founder, Project Beloved
- Capt. Gregory Petek, North Ridgeville Police Department

Cleveland's permit process continues to frustrate city residents, developers

For years, developers and residents in Cleveland have raised concerns about the pace, predictability and transparency of the building permitting process.

Long delays and unclear requirements can impact investment, raise costs and leave would-be builders and business owners frustrated.

This month, Crain's Cleveland Business reporter Zachary Smith published an in-depth look at how the system is working in practice, and more importantly, where it isn't.

He joins the show to unpack some of the new efforts at reform what it means for the future of development in Cleveland.

Guest:
- Zachary Smith, Reporter, Crain's Cleveland Business

The thought of parsing through that many recommendations might seem intimidating, but it's more manageable than you might think, because the list is divided into categories based on specific topics like "Historical Fiction," "Mysteries and Thrillers," "For Art Lovers," "Science!" and "It's All Geek To Me," to name a few.

Monday on the "Sound of Ideas," Ideastream Public Media's Coordinating Producer Drew Maziasz and NPR Arts Desk Reporter Andrew Limbong share a few selections from the 2025 list, for the avid reader looking for their next paperback, hardcover, digital read or audio book.

Guests:
- Drew Maziasz, "Sound of Ideas" Coordinating Producer
- Andrew Limbong, NPR Arts Desk Reporter

Vivek Ramaswamy shares top priorities if elected Ohio governor

The two major political parties won't elect their candidates to run for Ohio governor until May 2026, but both the Ohio Republican party and President Donald Trump have already endorsed Vivek Ramaswamy in the race.

On Monday's edition of "Sound of Ideas," we share a conversation with the GOP frontrunner covering his priorities if elected, his message to people concerned about health insurance premiums going up, what he's learned from voters on his 88 county tour in Ohio, and more.

Last month, we talked with the leading Democratic candidate for Ohio governor, Dr. Amy Acton. You can find that full conversation here.

Guest:
- Vivek Ramaswamy, Republican candidate for Ohio governor

The Latino holiday Las Posadas starts today, then there's the upcoming African American holiday Kwanzaa at the end of the month. In early 2026, there's the Lunar New Year celebrated by some Asian cultures, and Ramadan, celebrated by Muslims, and the list goes on.

On Tuesday's "Sound of Ideas," we'll talk about how there's a lot to be gained by learning about each other's cultures, at a time where there's also a lot of fear for these communities, with violence and threats against certain cultural groups on the rise.

For example, just two days ago, gunmen killed at least 15 people in Australia in what authorities are calling a terrorist attack during a Hanukkah celebration.

The "Sound of Ideas" team planned this conversation before this latest tragedy, to highlight our region's multicultural landscape, and allow audience members to learn from and connect with people who are different from them. It is with that spirit that we have this conversation.

Guests:

-Rabbi Joshua Caruso, Congregation Mishkan Or

-Lisa Wong, President, OCA Greater Cleveland

-Pooja Khaira, M.D., Academic Chief Resident, MetroHealth & Co-Founder, Sihk Mental Health Summit

-Talise Campbell, Ph.D., Director, Djapo Cultural Arts Institute

The city has been under the federally mandated consent decree for a decade after being found to engage in a pattern and practice of unconstitutional policing. The goal is to improve operations and restore community trust.

The story begins our discussion of the week’s news on the “Sound of Ideas Reporters Roundtable.”

The Cleveland Metropolitan School District this week voted unanimously to greenlight a massive reorganization that will reduce the number of schools by a third. The district said the changes are needed to align its footprint with current enrollment, which has steadily declined over the last few decades.

The legislature passed sweeping legislation that will make changes to the state's laws for recreational marijuana and intoxicating hemp. The senate passed SB 56 this week and it's up to the governor to sign it.

Cuyahoga County two-year, $2 billion budget this week that includes significant cuts to social service programs. Some members described it as the "worst" budget since this form of government began in 2011.

This week a judge weighed in on a legal challenge to the state's plan to use $600 million in unclaimed funds to help fund construction of a new Browns stadium in Brook Park.

A lawsuit challenging the funding mechanism is working its way through the courts, and a judge denied an appeal to block the plan while the case is going on.

Major League Baseball this week approved the sale of the Akron Rubber Ducks baseball team to Prospector Baseball Group. Ken Babby, the principal and founder of Fast Forward Sports Group, has owned the team since 2012 and oversaw its rebranding from the Akron Aeros to the Ducks. He recently became CEO of the Tampa Bay Rays.

Guests:

-Conor Morris, Education Reporter, Ideastream Public Media

-Zaria Johnson, Environment Reporter, Ideastream Public Media

-Karen Kasler, Statehouse News Bureau Chief, Ohio Public Radio/TV

District CEO Warren Morgan said the plan is also a way for the district to save money and improve academic offerings.

Some parents and teachers have concerns about this major change, including crowded buildings, unique programs going away and how the moves will impact families with special needs.

On Thursday's "Sound of Ideas," we've invited Morgan on the program to talk more about the plan and what's ahead. We'll also hear from the school board chair, the head of the teachers union, a parent and a student.

Guests:
- Warren Morgan, Ed.D., CEO, Cleveland Metropolitan School District
- Sara Elaqad, Board Chair, Cleveland Metropolitan School District
- Marilia Tsirikos Karapanos, Junior, Campus International High School
- Allison Jacobs, Parent
- Conor Morris, Education Reporter, Ideastream Public Media

The Menu: Best Food Stories of 2025
It's time once again for "The Menu," our bi-weekly series where we dig into Northeast Ohio's food scene with the help of the folks over at Cleveland Magazine.

The end of 2025 is quickly approaching, and this is our final installment of The Menu this calendar year. We'll wrap up some of the best food stories and trends of 2025 and look ahead to 2026.

Guests:
- Dillon Stewart, Editor, Cleveland Magazine
- Christina Rufo, Reporter, Cleveland Magazine

For many people, death is a taboo topic. It can feel uncomfortable, even controversial, and it's something people often avoid until they no longer can. But experts say making space to talk about death can also bring a surprising sense of relief and connection.

So how do we face our fear of death, demystify it, and get more comfortable speaking honestly about it?

In recent years, "death cafés" have emerged as informal gatherings, often in bars or coffee shops, where people come together simply to talk about mortality.

Wednesday on the "Sound of Ideas," we'll hear from a local group, the Cleveland Death Society, which hosts these open, agenda-free conversations about loss and end-of-life experiences.

And it's a timely moment for this discussion. For many, the winter holiday season can intensify feelings of grief and make them harder to navigate.

Guests:
- Kimberly Garchar, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Philosophy, Kent State University
- Brandi Lynn Wiles, Founder, Cleveland Death Society
- Gabriela Gomez, M.D., Resident Physician, Harvard Radiation Oncology Program

Meet the new president and CEO of the Port of Cleveland

The Port of Cleveland is a major economic driver of the region supporting some 23,000 jobs and contributing more than $4.7 billion to the Northeast Ohio economy annually.

The organization's influence reaches far beyond just goods that are being transported through docks on the lakefront. They are involved in financing large housing projects, environmental endeavors and reshaping the banks of the Cuyahoga River.

And now the Port of Cleveland has new leadership, as former CEO Will Friedman stepped away from the job after 14 years.

Guest:
- Jeff Epstein, President and CEO, The Port of Cleveland

In recent years, celebrities have been more outspoken about their experiences with menopause, with some negative, and some positive.

Actress Gwenyth Paltrow said she could feel the hormonal shifts happening in her body. She said, "You're all of a sudden furious for no reason."

While actress Traci Ellis Ross said, "I'm the sexiest I've ever been. And when I say that, I mean I feel the most myself."

Actress Naomi Watts experiences perimenopause in her later 30s. She said, "I'd wake up in the middle of the night, drenched in sweat. My skin was dry and itchy. My hormones were all over the place. I remember feeling so confused and alone, like I didn't have control over my own body."

Watts said there was not a lot of support for her at the time. She said there's an "unwritten code of silence. Women should suck it up and cope, because that's how generations passed have done it."

Last month, the Food and Drug Administration removed "black box" warning labels from hormone drugs used to treat menopause symptoms, after years of urging from doctors and patients that the warnings were not supported by science and overstated risks from cancer to dementia.

On Tuesday's "Sound of Ideas," we'll talk to doctors and a patient about menopause and perimenopause. We'll discuss misconceptions, stigma, and new access to treatment for millions of women going through this life stage.

Guests:

- Rachel Pope, M.D., OB/GYN & Chief of Female Sexual Health, University Hospitals

- Juliann Sutton, Patient

- Erika Kelley, Ph.D., Clinical Psychologist, University Hospitals & Associate Professor, Department of Reproductive Biology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine

High school sports can be an incredibly formative time for students—building teamwork, bonding and leadership skills. But what happens when camaraderie turns into hazing?

Hazing is when someone is expected or forced to do something that hurts or humiliates them, in exchange for acceptance into a group.

Monday on the "Sound of Ideas," we're looking at the legal aspects of this issue, including who is responsible when hazing happens, and when is a school required to step in.

This installment of our "Law of the Land" series is in light of four separate lawsuits that were recently filed against Ursuline High School, a Catholic school in Youngstown, all of which accuse the school of looking the other way, in three instances when members of its football program allegedly assaulted and harassed each other, and other students, and in one instance involving an alleged pre-planned attack on a student on school grounds.

After the lawsuits came out, Ursuline High School made staff and oversight changes, which we'll discuss, and also suspended the football season for most of this year, acknowledging that students violated their code of conduct and did things that they called morally wrong.

We'll also talk about how hazing culture occurs, how to respond when accusations are made and how to keep students safe from attacks in the first place.

We invited leaders at Ursuline High School to join us, but they declined and instead shared a statement made jointly with the Catholic Diocese of Youngstown.

Guests:
- Subodh Chandra, Attorney, Chandra Law
- Jeffrey Herman, Attorney and Victim's Advocate, Herman Law
- Zach Slates, Head football coach, Minerva High School
- Doug Ute, Executive Director, Ohio High School Athletic Association

Meet Cleveland City Councilmember-elect Tanmay Shah

Later in the hour, it's a new installment of our series "Get to NEO a Leader," where we talk to officials from across the 22 counties in the listening area that we cover.

We'll meet Tanmay Shah, who was just elected as the Cleveland city councilmember for Ward 12. At 29, he's set to become the youngest member of council—and the only newcomer this fall to unseat an incumbent.

Shah defeated Councilman Danny Kelly by a razor-thin margin, just nine votes, and ran as a democratic socialist. We'll talk with the councilmember-elect about his win and what he hopes to bring to City Hall.

Guest:
- Tanmay Shah, Cleveland City Council, Ward 12

The changes are in an effort to save more than $11 million in the new budget. The transit authority has already announced that Wi-Fi will not be available on trains, buses and trolleys beginning later this month.

We will begin this week’s “Sound of Ideas Reporters Roundtable” with a discussion on the proposed changes as well as the rest of the week’s top stories.

Ohio needs to do more to make roads safer for drivers and passengers according to a national safety group. The Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety released its state reports and gave Ohio a "yellow" or caution rating.

U.S. Senator Bernie Moreno says the time has come to end dual citizenship. Being an American, he declared, is "all or nothing." He's backing legislation that would prevent U.S. citizens from holding citizenship in another country. So if you are an American Citizen and have Irish citizenship, for example, because your grandmother was born there, you have to pick one.

An LGBTQ+ entertainment development in Lakewood will close at the end of the month. Opened in 2022, Studio West 117 included bars, restaurants and a gymnasium.

This week Cleveland City Council signed off on the exit deal for the Browns. The Haslam Sports Group, which owns the team, will vacate the existing Downtown stadium for a new enclosed stadium to be built in Brook Park. The current timeline would have the Browns open the season in the new stadium in the fall of 2029.

Ohio lawmakers want to further restrict where convicted sex offenders can live. The state already has laws that prevents such offenders, and those who commit any crimes against children, from living near schools, preschools and child care facilities. This bill would also prohibit residency near the victims themselves.

Gov. DeWine vetoed a bill that would have expanded the hours 14- and 15-year-olds could work throughout the school year from a 7 pm clock out to 9 pm. The legislature approved the expansion, which Democrats opposed on the grounds it was a way for businesses to secure cheap labor. The governor thinks young kids shouldn't be working late, except maybe on their homework.

Guests:

-Glenn Forbes, Supervising Producer of Newscasts, Ideastream Public Media

-Gabriel Kramer, Reporter, Ideastream Public Media

-Karen Kasler, Statehouse News Bureau Chief, Ohio Public Radio/TV

Sleep affects how we learn, work and maintain relationships, and poor sleep has been linked to a range of physical and mental health challenges.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about one in three adults in the U.S. doesn't get enough sleep on a regular basis, and experts attribute this to both lifestyle pressures and the growing presence of technology.

At the same time, trends related to sleep and rest are growing in popularity on social media.

On TikTok, some users view sleep as a time to allow skin and hair products to work overnight, a trend called the "morning shed." There's also "bed rotting," where people spend long stretches in bed scrolling online or watching tv.

And sleep supplements like melatonin gummies are growing in popularity, as are "at-home" sleep remedies. Are these trends helpful or harmful to our sleep? We'll explore this question and more.

Guests:
- Nicoleta Olteanu, M.D., Adult and Pediatric Sleep Medicine, MetroHealth
- Eric Yeh, M.D., Sleep Medicine, University Hospitals
- Wendy Troxel, Ph.D., Senior Behavioral Scientist, RAND Corporation

On Tuesday's "Sound of Ideas," we'll introduce you to seven of this year's 40 under 40 honorees ranging in age from 27 to 38, including a psychiatrist, an events booker, a real estate professional, and an astronomer to name a few.

Guests:
- Brooke Lowery, Senior Vice President of Booking and Events, Cleveland Cavaliers, Rock Entertainment Group and Rocket Arena
- Poojajeet Khaira, M.D., Psychiatry Resident Physician and Academic Chief Resident, MetroHealth
- Carmen Daniel, Ed.D., Business and Community Engagement Specialist, Heights Career Tech Consortium
- Ty Stimpert, Community Outreach Program Manager, Cleveland Clinic's Taussig Cancer Institute
- Maryam Kiefer, Senior Director of Public Policy, United Way of Greater Cleveland
- Kevin Moss, Senior Vice President, CBRE
- Monica Marshall, Astronomer, Cleveland Museum of Natural History

Then, we learn about Harry Houdini's war on spiritualism with Brad Ricca, local author of the new book "Lincoln's Ghost."

After experiencing a large dip during the pandemic, holiday shopping has been steadily rising over the last few years, with a record 186 million people planning to shop from Thanksgiving to Cyber Monday this year, according to the National Retail Foundation.

While Black Friday is the most popular day to shop, 67 million people plan to shop specifically on Saturday, with 80% of those saying they want to support local businesses on Small Business Saturday.

Ohio has more than 90,000 small retail businesses, who employ almost 180,000 workers in the state, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration.

We're going to devote Tuesday's "Sound of Ideas" to highlighting the entrepreneurs, makers and artists from across Northeast Ohio who rely on this time of year to keep doing what they love.

Guests:

-Mike Brighton, Owner, Gray Dog Comics

-Corbin Wandling, Production Manager, Nosh Butters

-Lori Parnell, Founder and Maker, Black Culture Candles

-Dominic Caruso, Communications Director, Downtown Akron Partnership

-Charlie Malta aka Guice Man, Artist

-Tessa Lebaron, Artist

-Maureen Ater, President and CEO, ArtsinStark

With Thanksgiving just days away, people may be in the midst of gathering ingredients to pull together that perfect holiday feast.

But what happens when the people around the dinner table can't eat the traditional dishes?

Monday on the "Sound of Ideas," we'll host our annual "Friendsgiving" show where we invite Northeast Ohio chefs to share food, cooking advice and Thanksgiving memories with us.

This year, we're focusing on dishes that can be enjoyed by everyone, including vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and nut-free options.

We've asked four Northeast Ohio chefs to share their inclusive dishes they've created and offer Thanksgiving cooking wisdom for home cooks.

They'll also reflect on their personal journeys with plant-based living and share how they're navigating a changing restaurant landscape.

Here's what the Northeast Ohio chefs prepared this year:

Porscha Phillips (side):
- Braised Greens with Smoked Jackfruit

Adam Schwieterman (side):
- Vegan Stuffing
- Baked Kale and Quinoa Salad

Teala Lewis (main):
- Signature Soul Plate- Fried Oyster Mushrooms accompanied by Macaroni & Cheese, Collard Greens, and a Sweet Potato Cornbread Muffin
- Seared Lions Mane- Mushroom over a bed of Red Skinned Garlic mashed Potatoes accompanied by steamed Broccolini.

Caitlin Shea (dessert):
- Maple Pecan Pie

Guests:
- Adam Schwieterman, Executive Director, Local Roots Market and Cafe
- Porscha Phillips, Executive Chef, The Vegan Club
- Teala Lewis, Owner, Garden of Soul
- Caitlin Shea, Owner, Philomena Bake Shop

Four bills addressing rising property taxes are on the way to the governor. Proponents say collectively the bills will save taxpayers $2 billion in the coming years.

We will begin Friday’s “Sound of Ideas Reporters Roundtable” with the flurry of activity in Columbus.

A six-member committee worked overnight Wednesday into Thursday morning on a bill that places restrictions on intoxicating hemp products -- eventually banning them -- and tweaked the existing recreational marijuana statute. The work on the bill, however, still needs a final vote in the Senate because that chamber adjourned long before work on the bill was complete.

Another priority for Republicans in the marathon legislative session this week: Further tightening Ohio's election rules and voter registration. Senate Bill 293, which has received approval in both chambers, now goes on to Gov. DeWine, who has said previously that he doesn't see the need to sign off on more voting restrictions for Ohio voters.

State regulators have ordered FirstEnergy to pay a quarter of a billion dollars -- most of it to its customers -- as penalty for its actions in the bribery scheme to pass the nuclear bailout bill also known as House Bill 6. The multi-million dollar bribery scheme resulting in the passage of the wide-ranging energy bill, which directed ratepayer money to aging nuclear plants and gutted renewable energy standards. Former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder and former Republican state party chair Matt Borges were convicted and imprisoned for their roles.

As the Haslam Sports Group moves forward with its plan to build a new covered stadium in Brook Park, Cleveland officials have set a deadline for the team to leave the current Downtown stadium. The Browns lease expires after the 2028 season but includes two one-year renewal options.

Guests:

-Glenn Forbes, Supervising Producer for Newscasts, Ideatream Public Media

-Zaria Johnson, Environmental Reporter, Ideastream Public Media

-Karen Kasler, Statehouse News Bureau Chief, Ohio Public Radio/TV

But in a world wired to our phones, how do we make sure that being together really means being together? Thursday on the "Sound of Ideas," we're diving into how children can stay safe on the internet, how adults can navigate their own social media use and how devices, while powerful tools for connection, can also drive a wedge between us.

On one hand, smartphones help us stay in touch, share memories and learn. On the other hand, they carry risks. A recent study funded by the National Institutes of Health found that among preteens ages 11 to 12, having a phone in the bedroom was linked to shorter sleep duration and greater sleep disturbances.

During the hour, we'll also talk about healthy digital habits and fostering spaces that feel friendly to both devices and intimate connection.

And, we'll get into "phubbing," or phone snubbing. It's the act of ignoring those around us in favor of our screens. It's a real phenomenon, and its effects can be more than just annoying.

Guests:
- Maureen Kyle, Host, "Parenting Playbook," Fox 8 & Communications Consultant
- Shane Tilton, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Writing and Multimedia Studies, Ohio Northern University
- Francesca Varga, Senior Prevention Coordinator, Community Prevention Services, Prevention Action Alliance

In August 2024, the city of Cleveland raised allegations against Cleveland and Columbus business owner Bobby George, including charges of attempted murder, rape, strangulation, kidnapping and felonious assault. More than a year later, on Nov. 3, that case was resolved when George pleaded guilty to attempted strangulation of a woman he was dating at the time.

The case was handled by a special prosecutor from Jefferson county, Jane Hanlin, who was assigned the case after Cuyahoga County prosecutor Michael O'Malley recused himself to avoid the appearance of a conflict because he had accepted campaign donations from the George family.

The difference between the initial charges presented and the final plea deal George entered into have raised questions about whether he was overcharged to begin with, or received a lenient deal due to wealth and influence. On Wednesday's "Sound of Ideas," we'll examine the case with the special prosecutor who handled it.

We invited George's defense attorneys, Kevin Spellacy and Diane Menashe, to take part in the conversation, but they didn't return our requests for interviews.

Guests:
- Jane Hanlin, special prosecutor on the Bobby George case
- Retired judge Michael Donnelly, former Ohio Supreme Court Justice and adjunct professor for Cleveland State University School of Law
- Terry Gilbert, Criminal defense attorney

If you or someone you know is in need of support, the National Domestic Violence Hotline can be reached by phone at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233), by texting "START" to 88788, and online at thehotline.org.

Health insurance premiums are rising nationwide

The longest federal government shutdown in history finally ended last week after 43 days, but the matter at the center of the shutdown remains unresolved over the fate of the Affordable Care Act tax credits that help make health care more accessible for those buying insurance on their own through the marketplace.

An extension of those tax credits was not included in President Donald Trump's "One Big Beautiful Bill," approved by lawmakers in July, so those subsidies are set to expire at the end of the year.

A Senate vote has been promised for later this year as part of the deal to end the shutdown, but if there are no changes, millions of Americans are at risk of seeing very large spikes in their premiums or even losing insurance, if they can't afford it.

On Tuesday's "Sound of Ideas," we're going to talk to experts about the cost of insurance going up for people on the marketplace, and even for those on employer plans. We'll also hear from people impacted by those costs and ask — where do we go from here?

Guests:

- Jaclyn Shlapack, Lorain Resident

- Kathleen Cooke, Senior Vice President of Employee Benefits, CBIZ

- Taylor Wizner, Health Reporter, Ideastream Public Media

- Emma Wager, Senior Policy Analyst, Program on the ACA, KFF

Public corruption impacts economies and public trust

It's estimated that trillions of dollars that would benefit the public are lost each year due to public corruption including bribery, embezzlement, money laundering and tax evasion.

Developed and emerging nations both must confront public corruption and the impact it can have on institutions and public trust.

Tuesday in Cleveland, the topic of corruption and how to address it will be the focus of a panel discussion at the annual meeting of the Council for International Programs USA.

It's a nonprofit organization founded in Cleveland by Dr. Henry Ollendorf, a Jewish refugee, to help train German social workers after World War II. The organization has grown globally with a mission to promote international understanding through professional development and cross-cultural exchange programs.

The meeting and panel discussion will be hosted by the law firm of Jones Day. Among those taking part in the panel will be a delegation of prosecutors from the Romanian National Anticorruption Directorate brought to the United States by the Congressional Office of International Leadership to give emerging leaders from post-Soviet states firsthand exposure to the U.S. system of participatory democracy and free enterprise.

The Council of International Programs USA will be recognized at the meeting by the Congressional Office of International Leadership for its decades of hosting international delegations in Cleveland and other U.S. cities.

Guests:

- Justin Herdman, former U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio

- Veronica Dragalin, former Chief Prosecutor, Anti-corruption Prosecution Office, Republic of Moldova

MLB, Ohio's Casino Control Commission and sports betting companies agree to regulation changes

Federal indictments against two Cleveland Guardians pitchers, Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz, have rocked Major League Baseball and the sports betting world. In response to these charges of rigging bets on specific pitches, MLB worked together with the Ohio Casino Control Commission and sports betting companies to come up with mutually-agreed upon new regulations governing what's known as microprop bets, limiting them considerably compared to what was allowed before.

In this installment of our series "Law of the Land," on Sound of Ideas, we'll explain the sports betting regulation changes, and look at the other legal problems that have come up surrounding betting in Ohio in both the NFL, involving famed Cleveland Browns quarterback Bernie Kosar, and NBA, related to allegations of faking an injury to help gamblers win against Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, who is a former Shaker Heights High School basketball star, along with how and why the rules differ for college sports.

Guests:

- Joe Maloney, Senior Vice President of Strategic Communications for the American Gaming Association

- Eric Chaffee, John C. Hutchins Professor of Law at Case Western Reserve University School of Law

- Joe Scalzo, Sports Business Journalist for Crain's Cleveland Business

Cleveland Municipal Income Tax audits surprise longtime workers and residents

Over the last several months, workers and residents in Cleveland received tax audit notices in the mail warning of potentially large fines from the Central Collection Agency, which is part of the City of Cleveland's Division of Taxation.

The notices informed individuals they needed to submit income tax returns and other forms that many recipients had never heard of, telling them they may have earned income which is subject to Cleveland's Municipal Income Tax.

We'll clear up the confusion on exactly what's required when it comes to paying and filing the city of Cleveland's employment and residence taxes, in Monday's installment of our "Law of the Land" series on "Sound of Ideas."

Guest:

-Mary Sasmaz, Ph.D., Assistant Professor in the Department of Accountancy at Case Western Reserve University's Weatherhead School of Management

Clase is accused of engaging in the enterprise for years and even texting and talking on the phone with a co-conspirator about it during a game.

The FBI took Ortiz into custody Sunday in Boston. Federal agents took Clase into custody Thursday in New York. Each has been released on bond after entering pleas of not guilty to federal charges.

We will begin the Friday’s “Sound of Ideas Reporters Roundtable” with investigation into Clase and Ortiz and the impact it could have on sports as well as laws governing betting in Ohio.

Each year, Team NEO, a private, non-profit economic development organization focuses attention on the demand and supply imbalance in the region's workforce.

This year, Team NEO's "Aligning Opportunities" report looked specifically at K-12 students and young adults and how they could factor into closing the talent gap regionally.

We're going to talk about the report and the workforce landscape for young people in Northeast Ohio to begin Wednesday’s “Sound of Ideas.”

Later in the hour, we will hear from Dr. Amy Acton. She’s currently running for the 2026 Democratic nomination for Ohio governor.

The plan calls for closing 18 buildings, ending leases on five others and operating 29 fewer schools in the district. Some schools will relocate. Some, like Collinwood and Glenville high schools, will merge.

Morgan said consolidation is needed because of a 50% decline in enrollment since the turn of the century, massive projected budget deficits and a desire to offer better services for students in a more concentrated district.

We will begin the Friday “Sound of Ideas Reporters Roundtable” with the school consolidation plan and discuss the rest of the week’s news as well.

But according to others, the bills won't help all Ohio property owners and claim the bills do not go far enough in overhauling the current system.

Separately another proposal from Ohio Sen. Andrew Brenner a Republican from Delaware County would completely reshape school funding.

We will talk about the House bills as well as the proposal from Sen. Brenner to begin Friday’s “Sound of Ideas Reporters Roundtable.”

The Alliance spotlights the work and achievements of afterschool and out of school time programs, which also include summer programming, with the Lights On Afterschool nationwide event which will be Oct. 23.

The programs, advocates say, are critical for Ohio's workforce, providing safe places and activities for students whose parents work. But some programs are concerned about the future of their funding.

Later, we will talk with the Community West Foundation about its efforts to create a financial safety net for the nonprofit organizations providing a safety net for those in need.

The city dropped its lawsuit and its challenge to a permit allowing the new complex to exceed Federal Aviation Administration height restrictions.

The story begins our discussion of the week’s news on the Friday “Sound of Ideas Reporters Roundtable.”

We will begin the “Sound of Ideas Reporters Roundtable” with the governor’s executive action.

The Ohio House this week passed -- with some support from Democrats -- two bills that proponents say will give property owners some tax relief. The two bills, which the Senate now takes up, make changes to how property taxes are determined and how schools and other local entities collect the money raised from levies.

Eleven protesters have paid nearly $400,000 in restitution in a pretrial diversion program that, if all stipulations are met, will null charges they incurred while protesting the war in Gaza at Case Western Reserve University last year. The protesters, ages 20 to 25, splashed red paint on buildings and sidewalks.

They were charged with breaking and entering, possessing criminal tools and vandalism. They spoke publicly last weekend, saying the university is making an example of them in order to quash pro-Palestinian protests.

Early voting is underway for the November election. And in addition to levies and mayoral an council races, there is a robustly contested battle for four open seats on the Akron Board of Education.

Eight candidates meet this week for a debate sponsored by the Akron Press Club in partnership with Ideastream Public Media, the Akron Beacon Journal and Signal Akron. Our Anna Huntsman was one of the journalists posing questions to the candidates.

People are packing independent music venues. That's a good thing. But the venues aren't turning a profit. That's troubling. So says a new report from the National Independent Venue Association on the impact of small music clubs on the state's economy, which estimates the more than 300 clubs made $3 billion last year.

Students, alumni and supporters of student-run WCSB college radio at Cleveland State University held a protest this week after the university announced an agreement with Ideastream Public Media to switch to an all-Jazz format programmed by Ideastream.

The release at the Edgewater outfall—a huge pipe at the back of the beach—happens when storm runoff and rain overwhelm the system.

Cleveland’s system is a combined one where stormwater and sewage are held in the same pipes before being treated.

When runoff from torrential storms adds to the mix, the outfalls provide a release point to prevent the system from backing up and flooding houses and businesses.

Now, the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District has developed a plan to eventually eliminate the outfall onto Edgewater Beach.

It involves the construction of a new tunnel called the Edgewater Beach Surge Tunnel to divert away excess runoff and combined sewage.

We will begin Wednesday’s “Sound of Ideas” with a discussion about the project with the CEOs of the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District and the Cleveland Metroparks.

Later, we’ll talk about how pet waste, especially that left on the ground, can impact runoff and impact our groundwater and waterways.

A new state law approved as part of the last budget, and which went into effect Tuesday, allowed the move. East Cleveland is pushing back, accusing the state of cutting off local government funds to the city and saying a state commission meant to guide finances failed.

We will begin our discussion of the week’s news with East Cleveland’s finances and what happens next between the city and state.

The idea is to document the stories of the Union-Miles, Mt. Pleasant and Lee-Harvard neighborhoods and those in between as well. Using a mix of first-person interviews and multimedia, including vintage photographs and film, the project chronicles the deep roots families have built in the area across generations.

Also on the show, we begin with an interview with the president of Slovenia, Nataša Pirc Musar. She addressed the United Nations General Assembly last week in New York and then traveled to Cleveland. The city is home to the largest population of Slovenians outside of their country.

A council aide downloaded thousands of unredacted documents from a public records database, one he was allowed to access. The administration says some of those documents contained sensitive information, such as addresses, Social Security numbers or medical information that is typically redacted before public release.

According to Griffin, Bibb's people called for the council aide's firing, which he characterized as a strong-arm tactic. The aide did nothing wrong and is going nowhere, he said.

The story begins our discussion of the week’s news of the Friday “Reporters Roundtable.”

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices or ACIP changed advice on COVID vaccines to a "shared decision-making model."

It also changed its recommendation regarding the combined childhood vaccine for measles, mumps, rubella and varicella or chicken pox (MMRV). The committee recommended that children under 4 not be given the MMRV vaccine and instead recommended an MMR vaccine and a separate shot for varicella (chicken pox).

The committee tabled a decision on whether to delay the birth dose of the Hepatitis B vaccine for newborns.

To begin Wednesday’s “Sound of Ideas,” we're going to talk about the recommendations coming out of the ACIP meeting and what those recommendations mean for those seeking COVID-19 or the MMRV vaccine.

Later, Brian Katulis, a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute joins the program to talk about the Trump administration’s foreign policy in that region. 

We will begin the Friday “Sound of Ideas Reporters Roundtable” with the call by U.S. Rep. Miller and others for the Guard to come to Cleveland and where Mayor Justin Bibb stands.

It's been over a week since the conservative activist Charlie Kirk was assassinated while addressing an audience on the campus of Utah Valley University and since then, we've seen the limits of free speech put to the test.

People across the country were punished for their reactions to Kirk's death, from the high profile canceling of ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live show after pressure from the F.C.C. to local officials being suspended or resigning due to comments critical of Kirk that they made on social media.

It's that time of year when schools are the ones getting graded. The state report cards measuring last year's academic performance for Ohio's more than 600 public school districts came out this week. Reading scores are down half a percentage point statewide, while math scores went up almost two points. In Northeast Ohio, Akron Public Schools jumped up an entire star in the state's 5-star rating system, from 2.5 to 3.5, meanwhile Cleveland went down from 3 to 2-and-a-half stars.

Cleveland City Council publicly reprimanded one of its own this week. Members voted to formally censure Ward 1 Councilman Joe Jones for misconduct and unprofessional workplace behavior. It's the first censure in 50 years for council.

Three unions representing educators in Ohio are suing over an element in the state budget that changes the makeup of the board overseeing teachers' pensions. The unions say the budget measure is unconstitutional and takes away the voice of teachers on the State Teachers Retirement System Board which oversees teachers' retirement money.

We will begin Wednesday’s “Sound of Ideas” with a conversation with the executive director of Canton For All People about its work on many fronts to get individuals and families in Canton into safe housing and highlight the latest "Sound of Us" series built around the organization's work.

Later, we will talk about the fall migration of birds that is underway as hundreds of species head south for the winter. The annual natural spectacle is the focus of the Headlands Birding Festival at the Mentor Headlands Beach State Park.

Naturalist, artist and writer Julie Zickefoose will discuss her writing and art that has focused on nature. She will be a keynote speaker at the festival.

We will end the hour in conversation with author Claudia Rowe. She sat down with Ideastream’s Anna Huntsman to talk about her new book, “Wards of the State: The Long Shadow of American Foster Care.”

This week Democrats unveiled their own redrawn map, one that would give Republicans a slight advantage in eight districts with Democrats holding a slight advantage in seven.

Ohio currently has 10 Republicans and five Democrats serving in the U.S. House. The speaker of the Ohio House, who presides over a supermajority of Republicans, immediately called the democratic effort a gerrymander, even as democrats say the republican gerrymander is what they're trying to solve.

We will begin the Friday “Sound of Ideas Reporters Roundtable” with the beginning of the redistricting efforts and whether this time the two parties can work together on a map.

Bryant Francis told reporters that he has not changed his mind about safety concerns he believes the new stadium, because its height encroaches 58 feet into protected airspace, would pose to the airport.

He also didn't say specifically what those safety concerns are, while the Federal Aviation Administration issued a "no hazard" finding.

We will discuss the airport director’s opposition to the current Browns stadium plan to begin Friday’s “Sound of Ideas Reporters Roundtable.”

According to the United Nations' International Labour Organization, human trafficking impacts more than 27 million people worldwide.

And though there's no reliable estimate of human trafficking in the U.S., according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, it has been reported in all 50 states.

To try to better understand this issue, and how it can be stopped., we'll ask how do human trafficking cases occur in Ohio? What's happening to these victims? And how are survivors escaping?

Later, over the next few weeks, Northeast Ohio will be in the path of a natural phenomenon. Millions of monarch butterflies will be on the move making their way to wintering grounds in Mexico.

We will talk about monarch butterflies, including their migration and conservation efforts with local naturalists.

The Cuyahoga County Sheriff's Office formed the safety patrol in 2023 to help Cleveland address downtown crime. In the last five months, three bystanders have died during chases.

The story begins our discussion of the news on Friday’s “Sound of Ideas Reporters Roundtable.”

Later, Ohio's soggy spring and hot, humid summer have helped fuel an active season for West Nile Virus with cases in moquitoes and humans reported in the region. We'll talk to an infectious disease expert about prevention.

Plus, a bill to make drive-throughs safer in the wake of a deadly confrontation in Stow.

The Ohio Department of Transportation this month denied a construction permit for the stadium after Cleveland's top airport official said the current design would "permanently and negatively impact" the airspace at Hopkins International Airport.

 We will begin Friday’s “Sound of Ideas Reporters Roundtable” discussing why the permit was denied and the options the Haslam Sports Group has to move the project forward.

A working group looking at possible changes to property tax laws will deliver recommendations next month to the governor. Property owners have made clear to lawmakers that they are maxed out. But the grassroots group seeking to put a measure before voters to abolish property taxes says the group's work will not stop their drive for an amendment.

Karl Racine, the monitor overseeing Cleveland's implementation of a federal consent decree over unconstitutional policing, has resigned. Cleveland entered into the consent decree with the Justice Department in 2015.

Lakewood residents frustrated with repeated power outages gave an earful to First Energy officials in a town hall organized by the utility this week. Power goes out frequently, they said, even when there's no storm in sight. First Energy blamed an aging system and bad equipment for the problems in Lakewood and the west side of Cleveland and committed to spending 12.5 million dollars on upgrades.

After a five week trial, Antoine Tolbert and two other members of the New Era Cleveland group were found not guilty on all charges after prosecutors alleged they were running a protection racket and shaking down gas station owners.

The highest profile Democrat in Ohio, former U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown, will run for re-election to the senate against appointed Republican U.S. Senator Jon Husted, the former lieutenant governor. An official announcement, sources say, will come next week. All eyes were on Brown as a possible gubernatorial candidate. His decision to make another run for the senate may clarify other races. Democrats hold no statewide elected state or federal positions, save a state supreme court seat.

We discuss these topics and more on the Friday “Sound of Ideas Reporters Roundtable.”

Those who treat people with P-T say the condition can go undiagnosed or misdiagnosed due to its rarity and the difficulty in determining the underlying cause.

On Wednesday’s “Sound of Ideas” we will meet a local woman who developed the condition and the doctor who used a surgical procedure to help reduce most, but not all of the noise she was hearing.

Also on the show, up first, we talk about the current labor dispute at a locally owned coffee chain and the recent closure of a café in Lakewood. Why are coffee shops currently flashpoints in the larger discussion regarding worker’s and unionization?

Finally, the Tennis in the Land tournament returns this weekend to the Flats. The tournament is now in its fifth year and brings to Cleveland some of the up and coming stars of the professional women’s tennis tour. We’ll talk to the tournament director about this year’s event and plans.

We will begin Friday’s “Sound of Ideas Reporters Roundtable with the removal of the subsidies and why the audit is being requested.

School kids have sick days and snow days. Should they also get days for mental health care? Senator Willis Blackshear, a Dayton Democrat, has introduced for the third time a bill giving K-through-12 students up to three "mental health days" per school year.

Robbery, felonious assault, breaking and entering and auto theft are down in Akron, according to the city's new crime report, which also shows there has been a slight increase in shootings, more burglaries and a sharp decrease in overdose deaths.

And, Cleveland firefighters will get a huge pay increase, 21 percent, under a new three-year union contract with the city.

Plus, we'll cover other stories of the week too.

The recreational market joined the state’s existing medical marijuana program, which has been in operation since 2019. According to Crain’s Cleveland Business, total legal cannabis sales in the state have reached $2.8 billion as of this month, including more than $600 million in recreational sales over the past year.

The voter-approved statute allows lawmakers to make adjustments to the law. While a number of proposals have been discussed, efforts to pass legislation codifying some of those changes have been tabled until after the summer recess.

So where do recreational marijuana sales stand in Ohio?

We will begin Friday’s “Sound of Ideas Reporters Roundtable” discussing the I-90 project.

The governor used his red pen 67 times to strike out items in the massive $60 billion-dollar two-year operating budget. He signed off on the budget at the end of June.

We will begin Friday’s “Sound of Ideas Reporters Roundtable” with a discussion on why lawmakers are taking the unusual step of returning during summer break to address these specific vetoes.

Plus, the anticipated summer blockbuster "Superman" has swooped into theaters with some predictions looking at a $200 million global box office haul by the end of the weekend. Directed by James Gunn, the reboot brings Superman back to his hometown. Two Glenville teens, Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, created the "man of steel." Superman debuted in Action Comics in 1938.

It's estimated that 1 in 6 people worldwide live with a neurological disorder—a broad term that can include Alzheimer's, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's, and stroke among others.

The study is expected to last for 20 years. Currently, more than 3,500 people from 46 states including Northeast Ohio are taking part in the study. But more participants are needed.

Later, we talk to historian and author Brandy Schillace, Ph.D., about her new book, “The Intermediaries: A Weimar Story.” The book traces the story of the founding of the Institute for Sexual Science, the world’s first center for homosexual and transgender rights.

 We conclude the show with the latest episode of our podcast, “Shuffle.”

Wednesday on the "Sound of Ideas," we'll start by talking about where Northeast Ohio stands in the approach and treatment of those impacted by opioids. We'll also discuss why we're seeing different shifts in drug overdose deaths, and what we can do to prevent a future spike.

 Later, we talk to Case Western Reserve University world affairs professor, Kathyrn Lavelle, Ph.D. She has written a book that traces U.S involvement in the Arctic from the founding of the nation up through present day.

The budget also flattens Ohio's income tax down to a single bracket meaning everyone, minus those who are exempted, will pay the same 2.75% tax rate.

DeWine, however, did strike 67 elements from the budget using his line-item veto. It's by far the most he's used the line-item veto. For comparison, on the last operating budget, DeWine used the veto pen 44 times. Statehouse leaders have questioned why the governor removed elements of the budget viewed as property tax relief.

Later, we bring you an excerpt from the 11th and final episode of the "Living for We: Keep Ya Head Up" podcast.

On Friday, the Supreme Court ruled that lower federal judges had overstepped their authority by imposing nationwide injunctions that blocked President Trump's executive order curbing birthright citizenship.

The budget is massive coming in at 5,000-plus pages laying out a mix of spending, tax cuts and policy measures.

One of the most watched items: whether the state should pick up part of the tab for the Browns domed stadium in Brook Park. The final budget came down on the side of the Senate plan to tap the state's Unclaimed Funds to pay $600 million toward the project.

The operating budget contains many other spending details including for schools and libraries. It also includes a change to the state's income tax –essentially flattening the tax so that everyone who's required to pay state taxes pays the same percentage regardless of what they make.

Gov. Mike DeWine can still use a line-item veto to strike out elements of the budget if he chooses to do so.

One of those bills would reduce property tax collections by $3.5 billion is getting pushback. House Bill 335 would eliminate the 1% property tax value that schools and local governments can levy without voter approval. It's known as inside millage.

The bill is sponsored by Republican state Representative David Thomas of Jefferson, in Ashtabula County. Schools and local governments say the bill would be cataclysmic for school staffing and public services.

Property taxes and what to do about them begins this week’s discussion of news on the “Sound of Ideas Reporters Roundtable.”

No Democrats in the Senate voted for the budget.

Now negotiations move to a conference committee to work out differences between the Senate and House versions which will then be signed by Governor Mike DeWine who has line-item veto power.

 We will begin the Friday “Sound of Ideas” Reporters Roundtable with the Senate version of the budget and the potential compromises that could come in the reconciliation process.

The city of East Cleveland currently has two people claiming the title of mayor. The president of the city council, Lateek Shabazz, was sworn in Sunday days after the conviction of Mayor Brandon King. Back in February, Cuyahoga County Probate Court Presiding Judge Anthony Russo had appointed Sandra Morgan to the post after King was suspended pending trial.

City council members say the conviction ended that temporary appointment, and the charter says the council president moves into the job. The interim mayor, Sandra Morgan, says she's going nowhere until the judge says she done.

We will begin Friday’s “Sound of Ideas Reporters Roundtable” discussing the Senate budget including the funding to education as well as the East Cleveland mayoral situation.

After intense public backlash, the Cleveland Clinic reversed course this week on a plan to begin requiring copays up front before doctors' appointments or other nonemergency treatment. The new policy was set to begin next week.

The doctor will still see you, even if you don't fork over the copay, and the hospital will arrange a no interest payment plan. That's a relief to critics who said the pay-first policy would disproportionately impact lower income patients and cause people to put off medical care. 

We will talk about the jury's verdict and the Clinic’s decision to begin this week’s “Sound of Ideas Reporters Roundtable.”

Experts say recent federal funding cuts to one prominent lab that monitors the Great Lakes, the Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory, may be putting the health of the lakes in danger.

We will begin Wednesday's "Sound of Ideas" with a discussion on the topic of Great Lakes water quality and the potential impact for those who rely on the lakes for their daily needs.

Later, putting fluoride in public drinking water has been called one of the 10 great public health interventions of the 20th century according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention due to the large reduction in cavities since the practice began in 1945.

But U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said last month that he plans to tell the CDC to stop this recommendation nationwide, and has called fluoride a "dangerous neurotoxin" that he claims is linked to several health problems. Dental experts and public health advocates have pushed back on these claims, and continue to advocate for the practice.

Residents angrily confronted him at Monday night's City Council meeting, demanding his resignation. He has been under fire since March, when former Akron Mayor resigned as city administrator just three months into his tenure, saying the job was untenable because of a relative of the mayor. Questions about the actions of the mayor's wife, Natalie McDaniel, have persisted.

The council will hold a special committee meeting later Friday in which they'll discuss the mayor's comments.

We will discuss the mayor’s response and what led to it to begin Friday’s “Sound of Ideas Reporters Roundtable.”

We will also talk about some of the other top stories of the week including, the city of Cleveland and Cuyahoga County cutting ties this week with the Greater Cleveland Partnership. The GCP, the region's chamber of commerce, sided with the Browns ownership by endorsing the plan to leave downtown for a new football complex in Brook Park.

When it comes to managing serious illness or the final phase of life, surveys show that a majority of Americans say they have at least heard of hospice or palliative care but most admit they may not know a lot about either topic.

We're going to talk about both to begin Wednesdays “Sound of Ideas."

Later, it's an excerpt from the latest episode of "Living for We: Keep Ya Head Up."

Citizens for Property Tax Reform must gather 443,000 valid signatures from 44 of Ohio's 88 by July 2 to qualify for the November ballot.

Property taxes and relief have been a major concern for Ohioans as valuations have risen steeply for many over the last few years.

We will begin the Friday “Sound of Ideas Reporters Roundtable” with the property tax amendment and what it could mean for Ohio if passed.

Later, did you have a list of chores to do as a kid? Many children today aren't helping around the house as much as previous generations due to busy school and extra curricular schedules. But experts say those small household tasks can set children up for later life success.

The city unveiled a $1.1 billion renovation including a new terminal that will open in 2032, and other enhancements including more parking and a new Regional Transit Authority Red Line rapid transit station.

Mayor Just Bibb said in announcing the makeover that in order to be a world class city, Cleveland needed a world class airport. He also acknowledged he’s heard the complaints about the airport’s bathrooms.

We will talk about the renovation of the airport to begin this week’s Friday Reporters Roundtable.

Out is Michael Robinson who leaves after less than two years leading the district. An investigation found allegations that he bullied and intimidated staff were credible.

In is Mary Outley. She’s twice been the interim superintendent and was tapped for the job when the board put Robinson on leave earlier this month due to the investigation into complaints against him.

We will begin the Friday “Sound of Ideas Reporters Roundtable” with the district’s change in leadership.

Washington is not coming to save us, the mayor said.

He touched on the accomplishments made in his first term and touched on a number of other topics. Bibb said the city will push forward on its plan to develop the lakefront, part of a city on two waterfronts vision. The mayor said the plan will not rely on whether the Browns remain Downtown. He put the chances of the team leaving for a new domed stadium in Brook Park at 50%.

We will talk about the state of the city address on the Friday “Sound of Ideas Reporters Roundtable.”

The board held a special meeting this week after receiving the report. Robinson signed a five-year contract with Akron Public Schools in the summer of 2023 and is on leave pending board action.

We will begin Friday’s “Sound of Ideas Reporters Roundtable” with Education Reporter discussing the report and why not all board members voted to place the superintendent on leave.

The budget passed 60 to 39 without any support from Democrats and with five Republicans voting against it.

The House budget includes the $600 million in 30-year state-backed bonds requested by the Haslam Sports Group to help fund a new domed Browns stadium complex in Brook Park.

There was a last-minute push by Republicans to cut the funding, but it fell short. An amendment, though, forced the Browns to sweeten their insurance against failure by putting up $50 million instead of $30 million.

We will begin Friday’s “Sound of Ideas Reporters Roundtable” with a discussion of the House budget and the various changed made to it before it passed onto the Ohio Senate. 

Spurred by state and city funding, the former National Acme building on East 131st Street will be demolished and the newly vacant land remediated. Combined with an adjacent parcel of 22 acres acquired by the city and once occupied by Republic Steel, the combined plot will offer 37 acres to attract businesses and jobs back into the city.

The Acme site in its heyday was a national leader in the manufacture of machine tools but has been shuttered for decades.

On the “Sound of Ideas” we will talk to the stakeholders on the remediation project including the Cuyahoga Land Bank and the Site Readiness for Good Jobs Fund. 

One major change involves funding to K-12 public schools, with House Republicans signaling the intention to move away from the bipartisan Fair School Funding Plan agreed to in 2021.

The six-year plan attempted to overhaul the state's heavy reliance on property taxes to fund schools. That system has been ruled unconstitutional four times because the Ohio Supreme Court said it created educational disparities.

The House Budget, however, did include $600 million in bonds to go towards plans to build a new domed stadium for the Cleveland Browns in Brook Park. The Haslam Sports Group sought the money as part of a larger plan that includes the stadium and a surrounding mixed-use development.

We will dig into the House budget proposal to begin Friday's "Sound of Ideas Reporters Roundtable.

Today, students—both locally and across the country—are still struggling to catch up. The latest scores from the Nation's Report Card reveal that fourth and eighth-grade students are still performing below pre-pandemic levels in both reading and math. Additionally, schools continue to face challenges such as chronic absenteeism and social-emotional issues.

The potential for confusion has raised concerns that new wards combined with new polling locations will mean more voters will skip the process driving down Cleveland’s dismal voter turnout numbers.

We will talk about the new polling locations to begin the “Sound of Ideas Reporters Roundtable” on Friday.

Later in the show, a conversation about how Ohio food banks are dealing with the growing need from families in Ohio while also dealing with funding cuts at the federal and potentially the state level too.

Finally, we bring you an excerpt of the next episode of Ideastream’s “Living For We: Keep Ya Head Up” podcast entitled "Something Greater Than Me."

The story begins our discussion of the week's news on the "Sound of Ideas Reporters Roundtable."

Also on the Roundtable, Senate Bill 1 sailed through the Ohio House this week. The bill sponsored by Republican state Representative Jerry Cirino of Kirtland bans Diversity, Equity and Inclusion programs on the state's public college and university campuses, among other restrictions.

We will talk about the Browns stadium financing plans and the pitch to lawmakers to start Friday's “Sound of Ideas Reporters Roundtable.”

Plus, we will talk about other news of the week, including Gov. DeWine's State of the State speech. DeWine didn't break much new ground in terms of policy proposals in the speech. Instead, he drilled down on policy ideas that he's previously backed, including proposals put forth in his state budget. Much of the speech focused on Ohio's children.

Later in the hour, there's a new sheriff in Stark County for the first time in more than a decade.

In Akron, the budget season is marked by belt tightening. The $798 million budget proposed by Mayor Shammas Malik represents a two percent decrease over the last budget due to concerns of uncertainty around federal funding the expiration of federal COVID-related funding.

Visits to food banks in Ohio are up 10% in each of the last three years, which is why anti-hunger advocates are concerned about a possible cut in state funding. Governor Mike DeWine's budget proposes a $15 million cut because money in the last budget was considered one-time funding. DeWine also wants some Medicaid recipients to get a job. He submitted his proposal to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Medicaid covers about 3 million people in Ohio.

Two Republican lawmakers want Ohio's school kids to spend more time in the classroom, proposing a bill that would add 53 hours of instructional time to the school year.

We will discuss these stories and more on the "Sound of Ideas Reporters Roundtable."

We will begin the “Sound of Ideas Reporters Roundtable” with a discussion of the changes approved by the state Senate as we focus on the top stories of the week. 

We will begin Wednesday’s “Sound of Ideas” talking to a Shishebor, who is considered a pioneer in limb preservation. Later in the show, we will talk to the Cavaliers organization about its upcoming “Bow Tie Night.” The annual event will be held March 2 at Rocket Arena where the Cavaliers will play the Portland Trail Blazers. 

The story begins our discussion of the week’s news on the “Sound of Ideas Reporters Roundtable.”

In the last session, several bills, including some high-profile ones, failed to get across the finish line. The slow pace last term was driven by in-fighting within the Republican caucus. Now it’s a new term with new leadership and a much faster pace.

Later in the hour, we will talk about efforts to help young people kick the vaping habit

Jim Tressel, the former football coach of Ohio State University and president of Youngstown State University is now the lieutenant governor of Ohio. Is it a temporary foray into state government, or will he seek to move up to governor next year?

Lee Fisher, the former Ohio attorney general and lieutenant govenor, now serving as dean of the Cleveland State University College of Law, will become president of Baldwin Wallace University on July 1.

And Jo-Ann, the craft-retailer based in Hudson, is shuttering most of its Ohio stores as it closes 500 locations across the country amid bankruptcy

We will discuss the bill these stories and more on the Friday “Reporters Roundtable.” 

Later, we'll hear how for decades, community leaders have been trying to develop Cleveland's lakefront, including improving connectivity from Downtown to the lake shore. In a recent City Club conversation, Ideastream reporter Abbey Marshall moderated a discussion on the Lakefront Master plan with a panel of city leaders.

President Trump made immigration and deportation of those here without legal status a key part of his reelection campaign. His first week in office saw a flurry of executive orders on immigration.

The story begins our discussion of the week’s news on the “Sound of Ideas Reporters Roundtable.” 

Cirino introduced a similar measure last session, Senate Bill 83, but it stalled in the legislature and died in the lame duck session. Now the bill is known as Senate Bill 1 and Cirino expects it to move quickly through the statehouse.

President Trump ran as a candidate on a platform that called for mass deportations. On Monday, he signed sweeping executive orders that declared a national emergency at the southern border and suspended refugee resettlement. Now, immigration advocates are calling on county sheriffs to stand down and not participate in Trump’s plan for mass deportations.

Jon Husted took the oath of office this week, taking the seat in the U.S. Senate vacated by Vice President JD Vance. Gov. Mike DeWine tapped Husted to be the replacement for Vance last week. The move upends the forthcoming Ohio governor’s campaign. DeWine is term limited and Husted had been viewed as the likely successor.

We will discuss those stories this week on the "Reporters Roundtable" as well as the intense cold that impacted the area earlier this week.

On the Friday “Sound of Ideas Reporters Roundtable” we will discuss the report’s findings and the reaction to it from Tucker’s family as well as those advocating for policing reform in Akron.

The Akron school board voted for a new president this week. The board selected current vice president Carla Jackson to be the new president. Board member Barbara Sykes had challenged Jackson and lost in a narrow vote.

Donald Trump will be inaugurated on Jan. 20 for a second term as U.S. President. Ohio's JD Vance will also be sworn-in as vice president on Monday. Vance resigned his seat in the U.S. Senate last week but so far there's been no replacement named by Governor Mike DeWine. Political insiders have suggested Lt. Gov. Jon Husted is a likely frontrunner. But this week, a contender who said he was out may now be back in the mix. President-elect Trump expressed support for Vivek Ramaswamy taking Vance’s Senate seat.

The City of Cleveland filed a lawsuit this week against the owners of the Browns over the plan to move the team's home games from the existing lakefront stadium to a new domed stadium complex in Brook Park. The city invoked the Modell Law as the basis of its lawsuit. The law enacted in 1996 is named after the former Browns owner, Art Modell, who moved the original Browns franchise to Baltimore. 

This is a result of a property reappraisal that was conducted last year in the county as required by the state. Overall, Cuyahoga County saw property values increase on average 32%. That does not mean property taxes will increase the same amount.

On the “Sound of Ideas,” we’re going to talk about property taxes and possible reforms and what if anything Cuyahoga County property owners can do if they dispute their appraised values.

Later, we will hear from a journalist in Los Angeles where wildfires whipped by near-hurricane force winds are devastating parts of Southern California.

In a statement Vance wrote, “To the people of Ohio, I extend my heartfelt gratitude for the privilege of representing you in the United States Senate. When I was elected to this office, I promised to never forget where I came from, and I’ve made sure to live by that promise every single day.”

Vance’s resignation will mean that Gov. Mike DeWine will appoint a replacement. There’s been no shortage of people interested in taking Vance’s seat.

On Friday’s “Sound of Ideas Reporters Roundtable” we will talk about the shortlist for the seat and the rest of the week's news.