The Sound of Ideas

Between a low supply of houses and sellers accepting cash offers, the housing market for first time buyers is tough right now.

Ohio Senate Republicans passed their version of the budget on Wednesday which included money for a new domed Browns stadium and would over the course of the budget reduce the state's income tax brackets to a flat tax. 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.

A new trail connecting Downtown Cleveland to the city's west side and creating new one-way streets are aimed at fostering more pedestrian activity and safety.

We will talk with academics in politics and law about a newly implemented travel ban as well as the call-up of the National Guard and Marines in Los Angeles.

Public schools are waiting to see how Ohio will fund K-12 districts, as lawmakers debate different proposals in the next operating budget which needs to be finalized, passed and signed by the end of June.

On the "Sound of Ideas" we will talk to several people living with ADHD, and a doctor who works in diagnosis and treatment.

The Ohio Senate this week revealed its initial budget proposal, and it included $600 million for a Browns stadium in Brook Park, but from a new funding source. Instead of backing bonds -- borrowed money with interest -- as the House proposed, the Senate proposed taking $1.7 billion from the state's unclaimed property fund to create a Sports and Culture Facility Fund, $600 million of which would be directed toward the Browns project.  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.

The new law, which goes into effect in October, was introduced by Ward 17 Councilmember Charles Slife. It also bans employers from asking applicants for their salary history.

As the state's new operating budget takes shape in Columbus, we're getting a look at what priorities the Senate has for spending over the next two years.

We'll talk to the president of the Knight Foundation, which continues to support democracy and independent local news in 26 communities, including Akron.

ALICE is a new term being used by The United Way, it stands for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed. Those are individuals who are often working full time and still struggling to make ends meet.

A jury convicted suspended East Cleveland Mayor Brandon King yesterday. The jury found King guilty on 10 of 12 corruption-related charges including theft in office and having an unlawful interest in a public contract. King was accused of steering city contracts to businesses owned by him and his relatives. King was accused of steering city contracts to businesses owned by him and his relatives and a codefendant, former councilmember Ernest Smith, was convicted of five charges. The judge scheduled sentencing for June 9. 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.”

Between 2018 and 2021, more people started using talk therapy as part of their mental health care, while using only medication became less common.

The Great Lakes provide fresh drinking water to more than 30 million people, power a multi-billion-dollar shipping industry, and create habitats for millions of fish, birds, and other wildlife. 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.

The next "Sound of Ideas Community Tour" is being held in conjunction with the Cleveland Orchestra's Mandel Opera and Humanities Festival and focuses on people reentering society post-incarceration.

Cleveland Heights Mayor Kahlil Seren posted a 15-minute video on social media Wednesday, denying that his wife made antisemitic remarks in text messages and conversation. 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.

A new Mother Jones investigation looked at the role Wall Street played in Steward Health Care's recent bankruptcy, which led to the closures of two hospitals in Trumbull County.

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."

The Ohio House's version of the state budget would reduce state funding for public libraries by more than $100 million over the next two years, compared to the Governor's proposal.

Several reporters from The Marshall Project - Cleveland are covering how Cuyahoga County's Office of Reentry is working with neighborhood groups to assist with those leaving prison.

A grassroots effort to eliminate property taxes in Ohio received the green light this week to begin gathering signatures for the proposed ballot measure. 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.

A University Hospitals cardiologist explains how exposure to environmental factors such as air and water pollution may put you at higher risk of developing heart disease and chronic health issues.

The formal inauguration mass for Pope Leo the Fourteenth will be celebrated this weekend in Rome where he will be enthroned as the leader of the Catholic Church. Coming up, we will talk with Northeast Ohio Catholics about the selection of Pope Leo and how the choice is impacting the church. 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 federal government restarted collections following a five-year pause, which could impact five million borrowers with millions more on the precipice of going into default, according to the Department of Education.

Climate data shows that we're experiencing longer growing seasons, which means more pollen and allergens.

Cleveland Hopkins Airport will be getting a major makeover in the next decade. 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.

The National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has announced a partnership that will focus on studying the root causes of autism spectrum disorder using Medicare and Medicaid enrollees' data.

We will talk with the League of Women Voters of Ohio about the recognition of women's achievements and author Allison Tyra talks about her new book, "Uncredited."

Cleveland's infant mortality rate is significantly higher than the national average. A new birthing center in the city's Hough neighborhood aims to improve outcomes for Black and brown mothers and children.

As part of Akron's yearlong bicentennial celebration, the city has planned various events through the summer, including the Heart of Akron Festival on July 3 and 4.

Akron's board of education accepted the resignation of the current superintendent and hired its next district leader without a search. It all happened in one very long meeting this week. 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.

On May 4, 1970, members of the Ohio National Guard fired into a crowd of Kent State University demonstrators, killing four and wounding nine students. Events are planned on campus from May 2–4 to commemorate the day.

For years, scholars have been drawing parallels to the evolution of the Roman Republic and the modern United States.

Gov. Mike DeWine started the H2Ohio program in 2019 to address water quality issues in Ohio, but it could see massive cuts if cuts in the House version of the budget are incorporated into the final spending document.

Sandra Morgan was appointed to serve as East Cleveland's interim mayor in late February, following the suspension of Mayor Brandon King, who soon faces trial for corruption-related charges.

Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb delivered his state of the city Wednesday and said the city needs to be resilient due to cuts and proposed cuts from the Trump administration and Congress. 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.”

According to the United Nations, food waste now accounts for up to 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions.

Catholics worldwide are mourning the death of Pope Francis. The 88-year-old pontiff died Monday, one day after he blessed the Easter crowds gathered in Rome. Pope Francis leaves behind a legacy of social justice with his primary concern for the world's poor and a focus on environmental stewardship.

The issue of microplastics continues to grow as a threat to public health and the environment. Local researchers and engineers are tackling the problem through educational programming and innovative filtration technology.

The Cleveland Public Market Corporation has been running the West Side Market since April of 2024.

The board of the Akron Public Schools placed Superintendent Michael Robinson on paid administrative leave this week after an independent investigation found credible allegations of abusive behavior, bullying and retaliation toward staff. 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.

Some academics think that President Trump's 100+% tariffs on China could have an adverse effect on the state's farmers, who export a lot of corn and soybeans.

Cleveland's urban tree canopy stands at 18% and is rapidly declining. Community groups like the Cleveland Tree Coalition and Holden Forests & Gardens are working together to reverse the trend.

As President Trump surrounds himself with wealthy tech moguls, the term "oligarchy" is being used more and more, but is it an appropriate label for this moment in American history?