The Sound of Ideas

The city of Cleveland and the North Coast Waterfront Development Corporation this week opened an online survey to get public input on how to use Burke Lakefront Airport's acreage if the airport is decommissioned. 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

Team NEO 2025 Performance & Impact Annual ReportThe headline numbers from Team NEO's new 2025 jobs report include nearly 3,000 new jobs, more than $450 million in capital investments, and 92 business investments across Northeast Ohio. 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 NomineesLater 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 ShuffleTo 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

How did the State of the Union play in Northeast Ohio? "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

We'll discuss the city and U.S. Department of Justice's decision to seek an end to the 11-year police consent decree. While police and city officials believe its time to return to local oversight, community members say they are concerned about reform progress.

The "Sound of Ideas" spoke with AI experts and took audience questions during a live event at the Ideacenter.

The city of Cleveland and the U.S. Department of Justice agree the city has done enough to be released from a consent decree imposed due to unconstitutional policing involving excessive force in 2015. They've asked a federal judge to sign off. The mayor says work still needs to be done, but the city should be in charge of it, not the feds. 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

Case Western Reserve University turns 200 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 todayThe 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

Experts discuss the history of politics and the Olympics 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

Last November, there were a number of historic wins across the country in the general election, including two women elected governors in New Jersey and Virginia bringing the total of women leading states in the U.S. at the same time to 14, a record high. 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

The state is clawing back more than $3-million dollars from a nearly $5 million grant it awarded Cleveland for a program that would help rid old houses of lead. The Ohio Department of Development administered the grant as part of the Lead Safe Ohio Program. It would pay up to $15,000 to remove old windows and doors, a major source of lead paint that chips and flakes and exposes occupants to lead poisoning. 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

People are turning to chatbots for emotional help and connection. Some people are using chatbots for social needs, others as replacement therapists. When does it go from helpful to harmful?

K-12 students, educators share how they are using artificial intelligence in the classroom 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'll kick-off our newsroom-wide reporting project, "Ideastream Explores: Artificial Intelligence" this week with a conversation about how AI is transforming the workforce.

Springfield, near Dayton, is on edge after a federal judge in Washington, D.C., this week blocked the Trump administration's attempt to end temporary protected status for about 15,000 Haitian immigrants in the area. The ruling is expected to be appealed. How long will the reprieve last? And will a surge in federal immigration enforcement follow? 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

Cleveland Kurentovanje 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

Minneapolis journalist reflects on continued ICE operation following deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti 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

FirstEnergy is seeking approval from the Power Utility Commission of Ohio to allow for longer and more frequent power outages, but some lawmakers are voicing their opposition.

Law of the Land: Sovereign Citizens 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

For weeks, the nation's flashpoint over immigration and enforcement has been Minneapolis where two protesters have now been shot dead by federal immigration officers. 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

Ohio leaders and experts react to the latest deaths by federal officers in Minneapolis 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

Mental health providers aim to reach more men 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

GCRTA proposed project on West 25th Street in Ohio City gets pushback from public parking advocates 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

Here's some good news/bad news as we begin this Friday. 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

Reaction to City Club forum with Center for Christian Virtue 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

Cleveland extends paid street parking hours and increases rates, city leaders discuss 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

Former Ambassador for Global Criminal Justice Beth Van Schaack was in Cleveland, and sat down for a conversation with CWRU's Michael Scharf.

President Donald Trump has threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act to quell ongoing anti-ICE demonstrations in Minnesota in the wake of the shooting death of Renee Good by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent. 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

Ohio's psychiatric hospitals are primarily serving patients who face criminal charges due to a rise in long-term, court-ordered stays, according to reporting from The Marshall Project - Cleveland and KFF Health News.

The fatal shooting of a woman by an ICE agent in Minneapolis has led to protests across the country, including several in Northeast Ohio.

Cuyahoga County Board of Public Health officials are urging parents and guardians to vaccinate children against measles, mumps and rubella, all potentially life-threatening, but preventable diseases.

Ideastream reporters examined how volunteer fire departments across Ohio are run and how those departments often deal with staffing shortages and financial challenges.

It's a midterm election year and the Ohio governor's seat is up for grabs as there is no incumbent. 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

Having a child is expected to be a joyous and exciting occasion. But if the baby comes early, that experience can become a rollercoaster of emotions.

2026 is underway, and with the new year comes a familiar tradition: making resolutions. 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

Its 2026 and the political world order has already seen major change, as just days ago U.S. forces captured former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife during a military raid on the country's capital, Caracas. 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

The "Sound of Ideas" assembles another panel of area readers to recommend books from across the spectrum that they think folks should read in 2026.

Property owners are howling as their property values, and their taxes keep going up. And the howls are loud enough for legislators to hear. They passed a number of measures aimed at providing property tax relief. But a grassroots effort to eliminate property taxes persists with the goal of qualifying a constitutional amendment for the 2026 ballot. Local governments and schools say that would be devastating. 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

The "Sound of Ideas" looks back at their favorite food segments from their series "The Menu."

Note: This "Sound of Ideas" episode originally aired on Sept. 2, 2025 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

Social media restrictions could infringe on First Amendment rights for children 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

We begin our look back on the top stories of 2025, pretty much where we left off at the end of 2024, with the Browns and the team's planned move to Brook Park for a new covered stadium and mixed-use development. 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

A bevy of new bookstores have opened across Northeast Ohio over the past several years, in line with a national trend of growing demand for local retailers.

The agriculture industry in Ohio is dealing with issues like an aging population, trade war over produce and big corporations wanting to buy up valuable farmland.

Note: This episode originally aired on June 24, 2025. 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