Podcasts about bureau chief

Two more guests for the price of one on today's podcast edition of Breitbart News Daily!Join our verbose host Mike Slater as he speaks to:Bradley Jaye, Breitbart News Political Editor, about how the 2026 Midterm Elections MIGHT turn out for the Republicans in November! What can patriots do to keep lunatic leftists out of power?ANDOliver Lane, Breitbart London Bureau Chief, on various news stories from the European continent. Should the America First crowd be paying attention to what's been happening in Germany lately or is it a bunch of pointless noise?MAGA! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

VR doesn't just have a vacancy problem. It has a pipeline problem. What if the answer to VR's workforce shortage isn't simply filling the next vacancy? Across the country, VR agencies are competing for talent, losing experienced staff, and trying to prepare a new generation of professionals—many of whom may not even know that VR is a career option. In this episode of the Manager Minute, George Michna of Connecticut and Mario Lucero of New Mexico join Carol Pankow to talk about a different approach: intentionally building the VR workforce pipeline. Drawing from their National Rehabilitation Leadership Institute (NRLI) project, George and Mario explore how career pathways, mentorship, apprenticeships, stronger onboarding, and leadership development can help agencies move from reacting to vacancies to developing talent for the long term. They also tackle an equally important question: once we bring talented people into VR, what makes them want to stay? If your agency is thinking about recruitment, retention, succession planning, or developing its next generation of leaders, this conversation is worth a listen.   Listen Here Full Transcript {Music} George: One of the biggest values of NRLI was the opportunity to step outside of your day to day work and to engage with colleagues, people who eventually become good friends of yours that live across the country, who are dealing with many of the same challenges. Mario: We've really invested hard in our leadership team, and we're seeing the results of that now. We got out of a cap. We're really making positive progress towards meeting our performance metrics. We have a way better understanding of our data, and now we're really focusing on leadership and culture within our agency.   Intro voice: Manager minute, brought to you by the Vocational Rehabilitation Technical Assistance Center. Conversations powered by VR. One manager at a time, one minute at a time. Here is your host, Carol Pankow. Carol: Welcome to the Manager Minute. Joining me in the studio today are George Michna, Bureau Chief for Community Living from Connecticut Bureau of Rehabilitation Services, and Mario Lucero, Field Operations Director for New Mexico General. So, George, how's it going in Connecticut? George: It's going good. Actually, the weather's finally holding it up here, so it's kind of nice to finally enjoy. Hopefully, a really nice summer. Carol: Yeah, that is awesome. I know we've all been talking a lot about the weather in Minnesota. It's hot and sultry. It was 95 yesterday so you never think of that here. And Mario was so great to have you here as well. How are things on your end in New Mexico? Mario: Thanks for having me, Carol. We're doing good here in New Mexico. Had a little bit of rain the last two weeks, which is really welcomed because we have been so dry and we have problems with forest fires here in New Mexico. So any rain that we get is welcome. So we're doing well. Carol: Well, I never think of New Mexico and forest fires. I'm sorry Mario, I just think of you as being more deserty. But I know you have trees. I know you have... Mario: We do. Carol: So today we're going to talk about a topic that's coming up across the country and it's the workforce challenges in vocational rehabilitation. And George and Mario, part of a cohort from the National Rehabilitation Leadership Institute, or NRLI, which is a leadership program that brings together emerging leaders from across the VR system to take on some of the field's biggest challenges. And as part of that experience, their group developed a project focused on career pathways as a strategy for recruitment and retention in VR. And we're going to unpack what they found and why it matters right now. So let's dig in. So let's start with each of you. How did you get into VR and what has kept you in this work? And Mario, I'm going to go to you first. Mario: Thanks, Carol. Well, for me, vocational rehabilitation is always aligned with who I am personally and professionally. I've spent my life around ministry, teaching, and helping professions. My father was both a minister and a teacher, and I think that shaped how I view people and purpose. I also live with significant physical disabilities myself, so I understand firsthand the importance of opportunity, independence, dignity, and meaningful work. VR gave me the opportunity to turn that into a lived experience and into a career where I could help others overcome barriers and pursue employment goals they may have once thought were impossible. What's kept me in this work is honestly the mission. We're not just processing cases or authorizing services. We're helping people build lives, support families, and regain confidence in themselves. You get to see real transformation in people's lives, and that's hard to walk away from once you've experienced it. Carol: I love that, Mario, Thanks for sharing that. George, how about you? George: So my pathway into vocational rehabilitation started in education. I was a special education teacher, later taught pre-service teachers. It was also a school administrator and then worked for the Connecticut State Department of Education. A lot of it has just been through those roles is that one thing that became clear that we put a lot of effort into supporting students while they're in school, but there's a disconnect. when it came to what happened after they exited school. So students would graduate, but the transition to employment or post-secondary pathways was not always strong or consistent. And I think that's really what drew me into vocational rehabilitation. It's one of the few systems that is specifically designed to bridge that gap between education and employment. And I think that what's really kept me here is both the impact and the work that we do. You see real outcomes when someone moves into employment and independence. And in my current role, I'm focused on kind of how those systems connect, both on the employment side and within community living, as well as education through a grant that we're running. So that's really kind of what's kept me engaged in the work, and just having those meaningful conversations with individuals about finding success in their lives. Carol: Yeah, I had no idea about you. George: Yeah. Carol: Being an educator, that is very cool. It's always fun to see people's stories and how they get into this sort of a career. Appreciate that. So I know you both participated in NRLI, and I just wondered if you could tell our listeners a little bit about what that experience was like. And how did that shape your thinking as a leader? And George, I'll tag you first on that. George: First and foremost. NRLI gave me the opportunity to step outside of my state and look at vocational rehabilitation from more of a national perspective. We were teamed with about, I think, 30 individuals or so as our cohort, and they represented both VR, general VR Blind and also combined agencies. And so you really get a mix of perspectives from individuals. And I think that's really powerful. And the other thing was, is that what really started finding, for example, was, is that, you know, you start looking at issues with your workforce, challenges that you might have, bringing in counselors and the like, and you start finding out that others are facing similar challenges. So you're able to have these kind of sidebar conversations throughout the time that you spent together. And you really get to learn from individuals about what other states are doing and how to kind of effectively problem solve. Mario: And NRLI was an incredible experience because it forced us to step back and think beyond just our own state systems and day to day operations. You're sitting in a room with leaders from all over the country who are dealing with many of the same challenges, but often approaching them in different ways. For me personally, it challenged me to think more strategically and systemically as a leader, instead of only asking, how do we solve today's problem? It pushed me to ask, how do we build sustainable systems for the future? One of the biggest takeaways for me was realizing that many of our workforce challenges in VR are not isolated problems, they're national trends. That realization helped reinforce the importance of collaboration, innovation and leadership development across the entire VR system. Carol: Well, I think we're definitely better together. NRLI, I love that bringing that sense of community because you can feel very isolated, you know, in your individual states and your agencies, and you learn how to do things a certain way. So you guys bring up a good point. You know, you hear other people with the same challenges, but they've tackled them differently. And so I love that kind of that transplanting of ideas that happens naturally through that cohort model. And you get, you know, you're with your group a whole year and you really get to know people. And I think that transplanting of ideas and that building that network that you can rely on later, because I'm sure you probably each have like email groups and all of that good stuff or chat groups with your folks from NRLI that you can just like, hey, we have this going on. What do you know about this? Or what are you guys doing? I think there's a lot of value in that. So I know as part of NRLI, your group focused on workforce and career pathways. How did you guys come up with that as your project? George: Well, I gotta say this, it wasn't a project that we landed on right away. The way NRLI is structured, we do have multiple weeks that we meet across the year, and we also had opportunities to connect virtually to work through how the paper would shape out. Really, in the beginning, it was a lot of brainstorming where we were sitting, you know, outside by the pool on a break. And I still remember this to this day. And we went around the group just kind of mentioning some of the hot topics that we had and what were we thinking about. And really kind of what we started coming back to was the same issue was kind of a staffing piece. And I think that's kind of where we ended up thinking about the staffing and then kind of what solutions could we bring from our various states to address that? And I guess from a point of view, it was kind of a self-discovery process of the group in realizing what to write about. Carol: Very cool. I love that organic. I know. Other groups too. They said they struggled like they might have come up with a particular topic. And then they were like, hey, we don't want to do that anymore. And they kind of move through the year and got exposed to different things. Other ideas came forward and they pivoted to something else. George: I would say that was exactly the same experience that we had, and almost feeling at some point that we had to figure out something because time was running out. Mario: I still remember that first day that you said when we sat around the pool and we were just brainstorming and we threw out like 50 million ideas. I think how we finally settled on career pathways and recruitment and retention was that we saw that this was a problem that we could realistically solve. We didn't want to bite off too much that we couldn't chew. And so we thought that maybe this was something that we could have an actual impact on. Carol: So Mario, a little more about that. You know, it's a problem you were trying to solve. Why do you think this is so important right now. Like what's going on? Give it kind of the picture of what's happening out there. Mario: Well, you know, Carol, the biggest problem we identified was that vocational rehabilitation is facing a workforce pipeline issue at a time when demand for services continues to grow. Across the country agencies are struggling with vacancies, burnout, retirements and turnover. At the same time, fewer people are entering the field intentionally because many people simply don't know that VR exists as a career pathway that creates a long term sustainability problem for the public VR system. What made this especially important to us is that workforce shortages don't just affect agencies internally, they directly impact the participants that we serve. Vacancies can lead to delayed services, increased caseload sizes, and less capacity for innovation and individualized support. So our group started asking instead of only reacting to vacancies after they happened, how do we intentionally build built pathways that introduce people to VR earlier. Developing future talent and creating opportunities for long term career growth within agencies that shift from reacting to shortages to proactively developing talent really became the foundation of our project and our paper. Carol: Nice. So what are you guys seeing right now across the states in terms of the staffing shortages and turnover? I just wondered if there's been any kind of movement where it's getting a little bit better. I just, what did you find out. George: When we looked at the work, kind of to build out the paper, we were seeing kind of a consistent piece where I think states were kind of dealing with this combination of persistent vacancies and high turnover, and that some states are, you know, obviously making a little bit of better progress in that. I think, you know, going back to looking at with Connecticut, I came to our agency on the heels of the Covid 19 pandemic. If you think about it, about five years ago, I was coming out of that rebounding. From that, we saw individuals with disabilities wanting to get back into employment. So you had this influx of people requesting services, but what you saw on the staffing side from the agency was, is that we had a lot of staff that either retired early or had kind of exited the employment of the agency. And so we were in the process of trying to refill those positions as we could. And we've done a really good job at that. But the implication of that is, is that we now shifted the agency from a mid to late career group of counselors to a workforce that's now more heavily weighted towards early mid-career staff. And that has implications for us because newer counselors often require smaller caseloads and more support to kind of ensure the quality services, as well as trying to ensure how do we prevent burnout among those staff as well? Also, what's happening is, is that we're seeing an added strain on our community rehabilitation providers in the state, and we see them as a critical part of the service delivery system. And so this now speaks to kind of the broader system that how can it then support individuals in achieving career goals? So that's kind of the perspective here in Connecticut. Carol: Here you bring up a really good point, George, you know I hadn't thought about that with the newer counselors coming in. I guess just the way you had stated it and having people earlier in their career, you are shaping then you have in a smaller caseload, which impacts then your overall capacity for serving folks. So when you have a big bulk of people in that early part, even though you have the same number of people, they can't produce the same amount of work. George: Exactly. Carol: Yeah, you always need exponentially more folks to carry that out. And it takes a while. This system is hard, like to learn and understand and really feel like you're getting good and proficient at it. So we've kind of lost those later career counselors that were also serving as mentors and such. And I know in some states people are saying like, hey, we've got a whole new group. You've got 90% of your people have been there five years or less. You don't have that other group that can help to support them. George: You know, it kind of then impacts your ability for supervisors to effectively mentor those staff because the added impact on them as well. So the entire system starts feeling that strain. Carol: Yeah, it's really a ripple effect for sure. So I know you guys have mentioned before that people don't always choose VR as a career. So why does that matter for recruitment? Mario: It matters because many of us in VR didn't grow up saying, I want to work in VR someday. Most people find this field accidentally through counseling programs, disability services, workforce programs, social work, education, or even personal life experiences such as myself. The challenge with that is that people don't know the profession exists. They're never going to intentionally pursue it. Other helping professions like teaching, nursing or social work. They have clear career pathways and pipelines and stronger public awareness. VR doesn't have that. So VR agencies are competing for talent in a field that many potential candidates never even heard of. That's why career pathways and apprenticeship models are so important. They create exposure. They allow students, paraprofessionals, community partners, and individuals with lived disability experience to see VR as a meaningful career option before they're already established somewhere else. I think the field has a huge opportunity here, especially because VR work is incredibly mission driven, that once people understand what we actually do and the impact we have, they'll be drawn to it, and the challenge is getting them exposed to it early enough. Carol: Well it does really fit with our new administration. I mean, maybe not so new with our president now he's, you know, in his year two, but very big emphasis on apprenticeships and career pathways. And so it lines up with the administration's thinking on that as well. George, I know you've had a little touch with this. What would it look like, kind of the career pathway and apprenticeship model in a VR agency. George: in Connecticut, we're starting to put together a formalized kind of mentorship program, if you will, where we're bringing in staff within our community, rehabilitation providers, where we can then provide a structured mentorship for them to kind of upskill their knowledge of working within kind of the VR space. The hope there is, is that they can gain experience in the areas like eligibility, plan development, employer engagement, and being able to kind of have that mentorship and feedback that's built into the process. And so our hope really is, is that kind of, you know, if you think about this as about opening the door wider at the front end, so that way we can become more intentional about how we develop staff once they're within our agency or within a provider. Again, this isn't about just simply filling positions. It's more about creating a pathway where someone can enter the field, develop the necessary skills over time, and see a future in the work. And I just want to say, you know, to your question before, if I can, I'm kind of a perfect example here because coming in from education, right? At no point in my kind of career trajectory was vocational rehabilitation presented as kind of a viable option for what I was doing. But an interesting note here is, is that within our NRLI cohort, and I was thinking about this, you know, in kind of getting ready for this podcast, there was at least three other individuals who started in special education and eventually ended up in VR. So I think there's something powerful there in terms of how we think about where we can draw upon individuals to help do the work that we're doing. Carol: Absolutely. There definitely is a natural alignment there. I know back in the day, even in Minnesota, there was a while where school districts were laying off school counselors because they didn't have the funds. And we found that the school counselors had such a interesting background in the training they had that was super transferable over into VR because they're helping students think about employment goals. You know, think about all of that and then that group of people and you're like, why didn't we think of this before and had some really lovely staff come in from that background. I love that. Yeah, it's smart to think about what we align with. Now, I know in NRLI, the fourth week is always the DC week and that can be super impactful. You get to meet the, you know, agency kind of heads from all different, you guys were at Labor and Department of Ed with the Rehab Services Administration. Did you guys have an opportunity at all to share your work and get any sort of feedback from the feds about what you were working on here with this paper? Mario: Yeah, we did. We had the opportunity to discuss our project and our paper and engage with leaders and stakeholders who are thinking about these same workforce challenges. One of the encouraging things was that the feedback we got really validated that this issue is being felt across the country. People recognize that recruitment and retention challenges are not just temporary, they're systemic issues that require long term strategies. And there was strong interest in the idea of developing intentional career pathways and apprenticeship style models because they create a more sustainable workforce pipeline instead of relying solely on traditional recruitment methods. I also think people appreciate that our approach focused not just on filling vacancies, but on developing leaders, increasing retention and creating growth opportunities within the VR agencies. That's important because recruitment and retention really go hand in hand. Bringing people in is only half the battle. You also have to create environments where people want to stay and grow, right? Carol: Yeah. Excellent point Mario, because if you bring people in and they don't stay, you just have a churn that's not going to help anything. You've got to create that inviting, welcoming, wonderful environment that people can learn and grow. Because that's what lots of our, you know, our young people coming in, they aren't coming to the state to just work for 40 years like maybe their parents had or someone else. They want a job they can grow into. Mario: And to add to that, Carol, I've been in the field of VR for almost 19 years now. I can remember going back to the early 2000, when a lot of the people in VR had a master's in VR, and there were plenty of people within the field offices to mentor new counselors coming in. But ever since the mid 20 tens, you know, WIOA came out, that's really dwindled. And we have people with less and less experience and really nobody to mentor. And as George mentioned, really heavily, depending on the program managers to be those mentors and trainers, It's just too hard because they're also having to drop below their 3000-foot level, down to the 1500 zero foot level to take on case load work, you know? Carol: Right. Mario: And he's not able to provide that mentorship as well as we maybe once did in VR in previous generations. Carol: Yeah, we got to look at this in a whole different way. So speaking of looking at this, looking ahead, what's one change you guys hope to see in the VR workforce because of this work? And George, I'm going to throw it to you first. George: It's like the million dollar question right? Carol: Yes. Drum roll. George: Drum roll. (laughter) George: I think the biggest thing I would like to see is a shift in how we think about building the vocational rehabilitation workforce. And what I mean by that is, is that a lot of energy goes into reacting to vacancies and trying to fill positions quickly. And I think what we really need to do, kind of what Mario was mentioning earlier is, is that, you know, building something that looks a little bit more intentional that we have these clear pathways into the field. We have strong mentorships, better onboarding, and real opportunities for growth over time. And I also think that I'm really hoping that we are able to continue strengthening the professional identity of VR. This is incredibly meaningful work for anyone that does this. It truly sits at the crossroads of education, workforce development, disability services, employment, and a host of other things. But what's kind of unfortunate is, is that a lot of individuals are just not aware about the field or the impact that it can have. So it's kind of an interesting paradox, and I would love to see individuals more intentionally choose VR as a career because of how powerful the mission is. I think Mario had mentioned that before about a mission, and I think that that kind of holds true there. If I had a wish, I guess that's what it would be. Carol: I love it. Mario, how about you? Mario: Well, if I could say ditto, I would. But what George and I have said today is that our paper and our project, we wanted to be more intentional about workforce development within the VR system. We'd love to see students, interns, apprentices, and professionals from all related fields become aware of VR much earlier in their careers. We also hope that agencies continue building cultures that invest in mentorship, leadership development, and professional growth so employees can see long term futures within the system. But ultimately, we hope this work helps strengthen the stability of the VR workforce because when agencies are fully staffed, supported and developing future leaders, participants receive better services and better outcomes. And at the end of the day, that's what we're really all about, right? Carol: Absolutely. I think it'd be super cool if somebody came up and did this and came up with that. Like the registered apprenticeship for this, for the VR program, if someone took that on and, and did the thing because it would set the way for the rest of the country. And who knows, you could end up getting some credentials there, Mario and George, You know that you could report on your common performance measures and all of that. I think it would be pretty incredible. Okay. I'm going to throw you guys one last question. I wanted just to circle back to NRLI. I know we have lots of listeners and people are on the fence about whether, you know, to do something or make that investment because it is an investment of time and money for that year. In doing that kind of training, do you have any kind of little parting comment or little plug you could do for NRLI? And George, I'm going to throw out to you first. George: To me again. Oh boy. All right Mario, you can't say ditto. Okay. Without a question, 100% hands down. I would recommend it. I can't even talk enough about it. It was an amazing experience. You're absolutely correct, Carol, it is a lot of work. There certainly are some time constraints, me being on the East Coast, for example, having to go out to San Diego three times a year and then DC also, you know, just kind of the impact on terms of like how you can do your normal job, right? And as well as kind of your personal and family commitments. But I think we said this earlier was, is that one of the biggest values, if you will, of NRLI, was the opportunity to step outside of your day to day work and to engage with colleagues and actually people who eventually kind of become good friends of yours that live across the country, who are dealing with many of the same challenges. We have text groups, we kind of have friended each other on social media. And, you know, we're kind of, you know, shooting questions back and forth to each other to this day. And I think that speaks a lot to what NRLI can give to an individual. So it's certainly about value and relationships and this national network of individuals that are still kind of keeping in touch with. And I think probably the saddest part of the entire experience, if anyone wanted to ask, was that last day when we were all leaving DC and kind of realizing that we're not really going to have an opportunity to see each other. Carol: Yeah, well said George, well said. Mario, you get our last word, but it can't be. Ditto. George: Yeah. Mario: All right. You know what I would have to say is, if I'm speaking to the directors of VR agencies, and especially those that are kind of on the fence of sending staff from their agency to NRLI, What I would definitely say is it's a commitment and it's a long term commitment. And what I mean by that is you can't just send a few once and think that that's enough value added to your agency. You've got to commit over a long time horizon to send staff each year. And you know, Carol, you worked with New Mexico VR through the VRTAC. I'm sure that you've seen our leadership team within New Mexico really grow and develop over the last few years. And that's because the New Mexico VR agency has sent cohorts to the last, I would say at least six, maybe even seven cohorts. And so we've really invested hard in our leadership team in New Mexico. And we're seeing the results of that now. We got out of a cap, we're really making positive progress towards meeting our performance metrics. We have a way better understanding of our data. And now we're really focusing on leadership and culture within our agency. And we're really hoping that going forward, New Mexico VR will be a real place that people want to work at and stay. Carol: Yeah, it really is an investment in your people. I've seen it all over the country and my own, my work with you all, I've seen it, seen the deck chairs move. People have been in interline. They've moved up in their career in New Mexico VR, like I've seen folks in new positions. And it's really been lovely, lovely to see. And I've been appreciative of the management they're investing in VR and we are just so our listeners know why I'm plugging NRLI. It is part of our VRTAC grant and so we do support NRLI. A number of us on the TAC also serve as instructors throughout the various sessions, in addition to there's a faculty for NRLI. So I appreciate you both. I think you did a great job on your paper. If people want to see your paper, they can go to VRTAC.org and go to our top nav NRLI. There's a whole section on NRLI. And you can see the cohort's paper right there. So thank you both. I hope you have a great day. Thanks for joining me. Mario: Thanks, Carol. George: Thank you, Carol. {Music} Outro Voice: Conversations powered by VR, one manager at a time. One minute at a time. Brought to you by the VRTAC. Catch all of our podcast episodes by subscribing on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Thanks for listening.

A federal judge has blocked an Ohio law requiring people to show proof of citizenship when registering to vote at the Bureau of Motor Vehicles, and the state plans to appeal. The requirement, which took effect in 2025, applies to in-person registration at the BMV but not online registration. It remains on hold as the appeal moves forward, with another ruling possible before Ohio's voter registration deadline Oct. 5. Cleveland Public Library and its staff union have finalized a new three-year collective bargaining agreement. The contract, approved by union members Wednesday and the library's board Thursday, provides an average 15% wage increase, including a 5% retroactive increase, as well as paid parental leave. Union officials said the agreement represents significant gains, but trust between workers and library leadership remains an issue. Cuyahoga County departments have been asked to cut expenses to help close two budget gaps totaling $37.2 million. Most departments must propose 3.3% reductions, while about 14 offices funded by the Health and Human Services levy face 8% cuts to address an $18 million shortfall. The reductions come as the county's general fund faces a separate $19.2 million deficit despite revenues coming in above projections. Departments must submit proposed cuts by mid-September. Gov. Mike DeWine has ordered flags at public buildings to be lowered to half-staff in honor of country music singer Dolly Parton, who died on Tuesday. Ohio has the highest participation rate in Parton's Imagination Library, which provides free books to children from birth to age 5. The state has allocated $8 million to the program, which has distributed nearly 28 million books to Ohio children since its expansion under DeWine. We'll discuss these stories and more news of the week on the "Sound of Ideas Reporters Roundtable" hosted by Mike McIntyre. Guests:- Stephanie Czekalinski, Executive Editor, Crain's Cleveland- Andrew Meyer, Deputy Editor of News, Ideastream Public Media- Karen Kasler, Bureau Chief, Ideastream Statehouse News Bureau

We now know more about the firing of the Akron police officer who killed 15-year-old Jazmir Tucker. We'll tell you why the police union says that was the wrong move. As the data center debate continues across our state, a Canton location has invited the public in for a look around, while a leaked memo from the National Republican Senatorial Committee shows the GOP's concerns for how this issue might impact the Senate race in Ohio. Speaking of the Senate, federal support is lacking for Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb's plan to close Burke Lakefront Airport, but he's not backing down. Also in Cleveland, public library workers are close to striking. Will they be able to get a deal on the books in time to prevent services being disrupted? For fans of America's Roller Coast, we'll fill you in on which Cedar Point staple has been nationally recognized. In Brook Park, we have the details on how the new Browns stadium is giving the I-X Center yet another reprieve from closing its doors, and stick around for the end of the show when we'll share which beloved boy band is coming to Rocket Arena this fall. We'll discuss those stories and more on the "Sound of Ideas Reporters Roundtable," hosted by Stephanie Haney, in for Mike McIntyre this week. Guests: - Glenn Forbes, Deputy Editor, Ideastream Public Media - Michelle Jarboe, Reporter, News 5 Cleveland, WEWS - Karen Kasler, Bureau Chief, Ideastream Statehouse News Bureau

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Republican Rep. Max Miller will remain in the race for Ohio's 7th Congressional District despite domestic violence allegations from his ex-wife, Emily Moreno. The House Ethics Committee is currently investigating the claims. Miller faced calls to withdraw from Republican Ohio Sens. Bernie Moreno and Jon Husted, but the deadline to leave the race passed Monday. He is scheduled to face Democrat Brian Poindexter in November. The Cook Political Report has changed its rating of the race from “Likely Republican” to “Toss Up.” The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio has issued a “notice of probable noncompliance” to Cleveland Electric Illuminating Company, or CEI, following widespread power outages in Lakewood this summer. PUCO received more than 800 complaints and found most outages between June 30 and July 15 were caused by equipment or line failures. Investigators also found aging infrastructure and observed CEI using garden sprinklers to cool transformers during extreme heat. FirstEnergy, CEI's parent company. CEI has until Aug. 21 to respond. Cuyahoga County will lose nearly $1.2 million in state grant money meant to make homes lead-safe after failing to spend it by a July deadline. The unspent funds were part of an $8.1 million Lead Safe Ohio grant awarded in 2023. The county funds were intended in part for Cleveland and East Cleveland, which have high rates of childhood lead poisoning. Officials and community groups cited complicated federal requirements, tight deadlines and restrictions on how the money could be used. The state has not yet said how the unspent money will be redistributed. PorchROKR returns to Akron's Highland Square neighborhood Saturday, Aug. 15, with more than 160 musical acts across 40 stages. The free festival runs from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., followed by a 7:30 p.m. main-stage performance by Rent for Cheryl. We'll discuss these stories and more on this week's "Sound of Ideas Reporters Roundtable." Guests:- Gabriel Kramer, Reporter and Host of "NewsDepth," Ideastream Public Media- Conor Morris, Education Reporter, Ideastream Public Media- Karen Kasler, Bureau Chief, Ideastream Statehouse News Bureau

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If your school's intervention system feels like an endless treadmill, this episode is a must-listen. Dr Sarah Brown (President of System Impact Consulting) and Dr Stephanie Stollar (Creator of the Reading Science Academy) join the podcast to dismantle the most common mistakes schools make with Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS).     In this episode, you will learn why the MTSS pyramid is actually a map of school resources rather than a tool for sorting students. Stephanie reveals the dangers of the "screen to intervene" trap, explaining why we must evaluate core Tier 1 instruction before pulling kids into intervention groups. We also discuss why expecting teachers to overhaul their practice without structural support ignores the reality that adults go through an acquisition stage of learning too. Get ready to shift your focus from admiring the problem to taking definitive instructional action. Resources mentioned: MTSS for Reading Improvement by Dr Sarah Brown and Dr Stephanie Stollar MTSS for Reading Improvement - Free Reproducibles Routines for Reading Results (upcoming second edition of Teaching Struggling and At-Risk Readers) Effective Universal Instruction book by Bradley C. Niebling, Kimberly Gibbons and Sarah Brown StephanieStollarConsulting.com System Impact Consulting You can connect with Sarah: Linkedin: @sarah-brown-ph-d-9177b516 Website: systemimpactconsulting.com   You can connect with Stephanie: Twitter/X: @SStollar6 Facebook: @StephanieStollarConsulting Linkedin: @stephanie-stollar Website: stephaniestollarconsulting.com   You can connect with Brendan: Twitter/X: @learnwithmrlee Facebook: @learningwithmrlee Linkedin: @brendan-lee-kft Website:learnwithlee.net Substack: knowledgeforteachers.substack.com/   About Sarah Dr. Sarah Brown is a consultant and co-author of the books, Effective Universal Instruction, MTSS for Reading Improvement, and Routines for Reading Results. She empowers schools through her MTSS Data Academy. She's served in a variety of educational roles, including Bureau Chief leading Special Education and MTSS implementation for Iowa, Special Education Director, Professional Learning Administrator, and School Psychologist. Dr. Brown is passionate about empowering systems to improve outcomes for every learner. She splits her time between the midwest and the southwest and her greatest accomplishment to date is toilet-training her cat, Oliver.   About Stephanie Stephanie is passionate about using MTSS as the framework for helping all students become skilled readers. She is the co-author of the books MTSS for Reading Improvement, Promoting Effective MTSS Implementation, Reading Assessment Done Right and Routines for Reading Results.    Stephanie is creator of the Reading Science Academy, co-creator of MTSS CollecAve, and serves on the boards of the Evidence Advocacy Center and the International MTSS Association.    Her past roles include Assistant Professor, Vice President of Professional Learning at Acadience Learning, and School Psychologist. Stephanie believes that supporting all educators to have deep knowledge about reading is foundational to high achievement for every student.   Support the Knowledge for Teachers Podcast:  https://www.patreon.com/KnowledgeforTeachersPodcast

East Cleveland officials are refusing to disclose how many police officers the city employs after denying social media claims that the department has only four active patrol officers and a single detective. Ideastream Public Media reports outside estimates put the department at about six active-duty patrol officers, while the Cuyahoga County Sheriff's Office is providing supplemental patrols at the mayor's request. The staffing questions come as the city continues to recover from officer indictments and financial turmoil. With Temporary Protected Status for Haitians now expired, thousands of Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio face uncertainty as legal challenges continue over whether they can remain and work in the U.S. Gov. Mike DeWine said Wednesday he has not been informed of any plans for Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids in Ohio. Democratic gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton is calling for a conditional moratorium on new data centers unless developers meet requirements including using union labor, meeting environmental standards and covering their own utility costs. Republican candidate Vivek Ramaswamy supports expanding data centers while emphasizing self-supplied energy. The issue is likely to remain a focus of the governor's race as Ohio weighs the economic benefits of data centers against concerns about energy demand and local impacts. County fairs in Summit and Cuyahoga counties are increasing security this year following the 2025 shooting of a 17-year-old in the Summit County Fair parking lot. Officials say the changes include more law enforcement officers, enhanced screening, visible and plainclothes patrols, and closer coordination among local and state agencies. We will discuss these stories and more news of the week on the “Sound of Ideas Reporters Roundtable.” Guests: - Matthew Richmond, Reporter, Ideastream Public Media - Michelle Jarboe, Reporter, News 5 Cleveland, WEWS - Karen Kasler, Bureau Chief, Ideastream Statehouse News Bureau

Ohio's property taxes help pay for things like public schools, parks, police departments and other local services, generating about $24 billion in revenue a year. But homeowners have been feeling pinched lately, as some counties have seen double digit increases in property valuations leading to higher taxes for some. That has led to calls for reform, with one group hoping to eliminate property taxes entirely, with eyes now on the 2027 ballot, after failing to get a constitutional amendment proposal on this November's ballot. Ideastream Public Media has been going to public libraries and community events this summer all across Northeast Ohio to learn about the issues that are driving people to vote, and we've heard over and over that property taxes are a key issue on the top of voters' minds. That's why our newsroom recently took a weeklong deep dive into the issue called, "Ideastream Explores: Property Taxes." On Monday's "Sound of Ideas," we're going to highlight some of that reporting. We'll learn about legislative reform efforts, how property taxes impact Ohio's farmers, and what would happen if funding for important resources like libraries and parks were changed. That's part of this special edition of the Sound of Ideas. First, we'll learn more about the controversial movement to eliminate property taxes in the state with Ohio Statehouse News Bureau Chief Karen Kasler. Then, we'll learn about how rising property taxes are impacting a distinct group of landowners — farmers. Ideastream's Richard Cunningham shares how farmers are faring in today's economic landscape, and we'll hear from a longtime farmer and head of the Ohio Farm Bureau, Bill Patterson. Finally, we'll learn how reform or abolishment of property taxes could be devastating to the vast public services that rely on this revenue to fund their operations, including parks and libraries. We'll be joined by Ideastream Public Media's Kabir Bhatia and Zaria Johnson for this part of the conversation. Guests: - Karen Kasler, Bureau Chief, Ideastream Statehouse News Bureau - Richard Cunningham, Engaged Journalism Reporter, Ideastream Public Media - Bill Patterson, Co-owner, Patterson Farms & President, Ohio Farm Bureau - Kabir Bhatia, Senior Arts and Culture Reporter, Ideastream Public Media - Zaria Johnson, Environmental Reporter, Ideastream Public Media

Ohio's race for governor is bringing competing visions for property tax relief into focus. Democratic candidate Dr. Amy Acton is proposing targeted relief for homeowners, including expanding the homestead exemption and creating an income-based property tax cap. Republican candidate Vivek Ramaswamy has called for dramatically reducing property taxes and has previously supported eliminating them altogether. The Ohio EPA has abandoned a proposed statewide permit that would have allowed data centers to discharge wastewater under a single set of rules. Instead, the agency will require each facility to obtain an individual permit with a project-specific environmental review. The decision came after the agency received thousands of public comments raising concerns about potential impacts on Ohio waterways. An investigation published this week by Mother Jones details allegations against U.S. Rep. Max Miller involving claims of domestic violence, drug use and threats. Miller, who is campaigning for reelection, has denied wrongdoing and challenged many of the allegations in court, while some related investigations remain ongoing. Akron's Northside Marketplace will permanently close July 31 after its owners said mounting debt and financial challenges made the business unsustainable. The closure leaves more than 100 vendors searching for new locations. One vendor is encouraging others to sell their products at a similar store, The Mercantile Akron, which is expected to open soon downtown. Wednesday marked the 230th anniversary of Cleveland's founding on July 22, 1796. Events across the city are celebrating Cleveland's history, neighborhoods and cultural legacy. We will discuss these stories and more news of the week on the "Sound of Ideas Reporters Roundtable." Guests:- Anna Huntsman, Reporter, Ideastream Public Media- Andrew Meyer, Deputy Editor of News, Ideastream Public Media- Karen Kasler, Bureau Chief, Ideastream Statehouse News Bureau

Hotel Pacifico was created by Air Quotes Media with support from our presenting sponsor TELUS, as well as FortisBC.Geoff and Mike welcome Thomas Seal, Bloomberg's Vancouver bureau chief, to Hotel Pacifico.  Thomas discusses the stories he's been covering on the west coast and what's gaining the attention of Bloomberg readers, including industries on the rise and industries under stress.  They also discuss parallels between Brexit and the Alberta separatism debate, the joy of seaplanes, and the glorious piles of sulphur that adorn our shores.  In the Strategy Suite, Geoff and Mike discuss the leadership change at Centre BC, the combustible nature of the BC forest industry, and a new chief of staff in Premier Eby's office. 

Canadian wildfire smoke prompted an air quality advisory across Ohio on Thursday, with Northeast Ohio reaching hazardous air quality levels. The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency urged everyone, but especially those with heart or lung conditions, children, older adults and pregnant women, to stay indoors. The health effects of breathing in wildfire smoke may include asthma attack, chest pains, coughing, headaches, runny nose, stinging eyes, wheezing and shortness of breath. Cleveland has extended its contract with Flock Safety's license plate reader cameras for six months. The contract extension was shortened from one year and includes new privacy protections that prohibits outside access to data collected by the cameras without a warrant. Cleveland's contract with Flock began in 2023 and includes about 100 cameras at locations around the city. CrimeRadar, an app that uses artificial intelligence to track potential criminal activity, falsely reported an active shooter at the University of Akron on Tuesday. Akron police confirmed there was no shooting. In December, the app also falsely reported a shooting at a Streetsboro elementary school. Republican candidate for governor, Vivek Ramaswamy, received the endorsement of the state's largest business lobbying group, the Ohio Chamber of Commerce. The group has only backed Republicans for governor in the 16 years that it's been endorsing candidates for that office. In his announcement, Ramaswamy said he plans to eliminate Ohio's income tax and the tax on capital gains. A memo from legislative researchers obtained by the Statehouse News Bureau in April showed more than 55% of the benefit would go to those making over $1 million a year. And the U.S. House of Representatives has voted to make Daylight Saving Time permanent. The measure, named the "Sunshine Protection Act," now heads to the Senate. We will discuss these stories and more news of the week on the “Sound of Ideas Reporters Roundtable.” Guests:- Conor Morris, Reporter, Ideastream Public Media- Matthew Richmond, Reporter, Ideastream Public Media- Karen Kasler, Bureau Chief, Ideastream Statehouse News Bureau

Ontario MPP's and big-time hotel bills with Global News Queen's Park Bureau Chief Colin D'Mello.

Cuyahoga County voters are likely to decide new property taxes on the November ballot to help fund the social safety net and services for people with developmental disabilities. The county will seek a renewal, with an increase, for Health and Human Services. County Council gave that plan a first reading this week. The same day, Council gave final approval for a separate levy to fund the Board of Developmental Disabilities. The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority will wait until the spring ballot, May 2027, to ask voters for a sales tax increase. Cleveland City Council's safety committee changed its tune, voting 5-2 this week to approve a contract extension for Flock surveillance cameras. A while back the same committee voted no. Next week, the full council will vote. Vocal opposition to the license plate-reading cameras contends they can be used to violate rights, while police say they're vital crime-fighting tools. The architect of Senate Bill 1, which sought to remove what Republican lawmakers called liberal bias on college campuses, now wants to make it mandatory for students to take a course through the intellectual diversity center the bill created. Republican Sen. Jerry Cirino of Kirtland has introduced Senate Bill 461 which requires the 3-credit-hour American civic literacy course. Gov. Mike DeWine signed off on 14 bills this week, from hardening Medicaid fraud protections to making failure to identify yourself during a traffic stop a crime. He also signed off on a requirement that high schools teach a conservative-backed curriculum known as the Success Sequence — graduate, get a job, get married, then have children. Lakewood officials are asking state regulators to investigate FirstEnergy again after another round of prolonged power outages left thousands of customers without electricity during last week's extreme heat. We will discuss these stories and more news of the week on the “Sound of Ideas Reporters Roundtable.” Guests:- Andrew Meyer, Deputy Editor of News, Ideastream Public Media- Glenn Forbes, Deputy Editor of News, Ideastream Public Media- Karen Kasler, Bureau Chief, Ideastream Statehouse News Bureau

Two guests for the price of one on today's podcast edition of Breitbart News Daily! Join host Mike Slater as he speaks with: Breitbart News's London Bureau Chief Oliver Lane about President Donald J. Trump's recent dealings with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and how his moves will impact both Europeans AND Americans! AND Breitbart Senior Writer John Nolte on the latest scandal surrounding U.S. Senate Candidate Graham Platner and how unabashedly patriotic movies like "Young Washington" are succeeding in this country! MAGA! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Academics say China's new ethnic unity law has implications for people living outside of the country and New Zealanders should be concerned. Anna Fifield, former Bureau Chief in Beijing for the Washington Post spoke to John Campbell about the potential implications of the new law.

Two great guests from the Breitbart organization join host Mike Slater for great conversations about life and politics in modern times! Tune in for: A chat with Breitbart's Second Amendment Correspondent, AWR Hawkins, about a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision related to firearms and illegal drugs. Should potheads with cocaine in their house be allowed to own guns? The answers that we're hearing will shock you! AND A hearty conversation with Breitbart's London Bureau Chief, Oliver Lane, on how the United Kingdom is about to have ANOTHER Prime Minister (Keir Starmer) resign from the position. What the heck is going on in Europe? Can America's ancestral home be saved? MAGA! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Gov. Mike DeWine is urging Ohio lawmakers to permanently end the death penalty, saying the issue should go before voters if the legislature declines to act. DeWine has postponed every scheduled execution since taking office in 2019 and has said the moratorium stems partly from pharmaceutical companies' opposition to the use of their drugs in lethal injections. However, some prosecutors and lawmakers who support the death penalty dispute that justification. The Ohio Organizing Collaborative, a voter engagement group for left-leaning and progressive causes, was raided by the FBI. Board member Prentiss Haney said agents searched the organization's Northeast Ohio offices, questioned staff and associates and in some cases seized laptops and other electronic devices. Several Democratic members of Congress, including Ohio U.S. Reps. Emilia Sykes and Joyce Beatty, have criticized the raid and expressed support for the organization. Cleveland City Council members voiced strong skepticism about Mayor Justin Bibb's proposal to extend the city's contract with surveillance camera company Flock Safety, questioning whether the system justifies its cost. A council committee voted against the extension, though the measure could still advance. Cleveland has about 100 Flock cameras and has paid $250,000 annually for the program since 2023. Ohio lawmakers are considering a proposal that would allow 14- and 15-year-olds to work until 9 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and nights before non-school days with parental and school approval. Current law bars 14- and 15-year-olds from working past 7 p.m. during the school year. The measure follows Gov. Mike DeWine's veto of a broader proposal last year. Sen. Tim Schaffer, R-Lancaster said he negotiated the change between him, DeWine and the Ohio Restaurant Association. We will discuss these topics and other news of the week on the “Sound of Ideas Reporters Roundtable.” Guests: - Karen Kasler, Bureau Chief, Ideastream Statehouse News Bureau - Anna Huntsman, Akron/Canton Reporter, Ideastream Public Media - Zaria Johnson, Environment Reporter, Ideastream Public Media

A marathon legislative session this week in Columbus produced several measures that we'll be unpacking here to begin the show. We start with what didn't get done: new rules for data centers. That legislation went off the rails over tax abatement. Data centers currently receive a 100% sales tax exemption. Proposed legislation would have reduced that tax break to between 50% and 75%. But many lawmakers, responding to concerns from constituents, say the industry should receive no exemption at all. Property tax relief remains a priority for Ohioans and lawmakers took action during their marathon session to provide help qualifying senior and disabled homeowners. More than 700,000 Homestead Exemption recipients will receive a nearly $500 credit toward their tax bill in January. Voters will decide whether to put photo-identification requirements for in-person voters – already a law in Ohio – into the constitution after lawmakers approved a constitutional amendment for the fall ballot. In a separate measure lawmakers sent to the governor a bill that extends voter ID to those casting votes by absentee/mail-in ballot. Ohio Republicans who say they are concerned about fraud in Medicaid in Ohio passed new regulations but first stripped out a provision that would have denied funding for those who care for sick family members. That provision had sparked spirited protests at the Statehouse. The Cleveland Clinic agreed to a deal with the Department of Justice this week that will end gender-affirming care for minors for at least the next 20 years. Prompted by an investigation into billing irregularities for such care, the agreement would remain in effect even if the current state law prohibiting gender-affirming care would be overturned. The MetroHealth System will not seek recertification of its Level 2 pediatric trauma center in 2027, though it will still treat children through its broader Level 1 trauma center for adults which also can treat minors. It will transfer pediatric cases to University Hospitals, which runs the region's only Level 1 pediatric trauma center, saying it's better for the broader system not to duplicate efforts. We will discuss these topics and the rest of the week's news on the “Sound of Ideas Reporters Roundtable.” Guests:- Abbey Marshall, Local Government Reporter, Ideastream Public Media- Conor Morris, Education Reporter, Ideastream Public Media- Karen Kasler, Bureau Chief, Ideastream Statehouse News Bureau

Trump administration cabinet members and other federal and state officials denounced fraud in Medicaid and various government programs during a news conference in central Ohio. Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche was joined by FBI Director Kash Patel, Dr. Mehmet Oz, administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, and other officials. They announced the indictment of 14 people accused of schemes involving Medicaid providers, behavioral health services for people with autism and a romance fraud operation. More than 100 cameras at the Cuyahoga County Jail were found to be malfunctioning in January 2022. Officials were aware of the problem, but it took four years to replace them, according to reporting by The Marshall Project Cleveland. County officials said the project required more than $220,000 and that the funding did not become available until late last year. Properties used as short-term rentals through services such as Airbnb and Vrbo must now register with the city and comply with other new regulations approved by Cleveland City Council this week. The new wave band Devo performed at the Akron Civic Theatre on Wednesday. To commemorate the band's first show in Kent, state Rep. Michele Grim, D-Toledo, has introduced House Bill 866, which would designate April 18 as Devo Day in Ohio. These stories and more will be part of this week's discussion on the “Sound of Ideas Reporters Roundtable.” Guests:- Matt Richmond, Criminal Justice Reporter, Ideastream Public Media- Gabriel Kramer, Reporter/Producer, Ideastream Public Media- Karen Kasler, Bureau Chief, Ideastream Statehouse News Bureau

Attorney General Dave Yost reflects on 25 years in Ohio politics This is Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost's final week in office. He announced last month he is stepping down to take a job as the vice president of strategy for the Christian, conservative legal group, the Alliance Defending Freedom. Yost could not run for re-election to the attorney general office because of term limits. He planned to challenge for the Republican nomination for governor, but the Ohio GOP and President Donald Trump threw support to Vivek Ramaswamy early on in the process effectively ending Yost's primary chances. He leaves with six months left in his term. Gov. Mike DeWine tapped Ohio Department of Public Safety Director Andy Wilson to serve out the rest of Yost's term. Tuesday on the "Sound of Ideas," we'll hear from Ideastream's Statehouse News Bureau Chief Karen Kasler, who recently sat down with Yost for an exit interview for the "State of Ohio" on WVIZ-PBS. Yost reflected on his quarter-century in Ohio politics, why he decided it was time to leave for the private sector and why this opportunity was the right one for him. Guests:- Dave Yost, Attorney General, State of Ohio- Karen Kasler, Bureau Chief, Ideastream Statehouse News Bureau New research predicts rising temperatures will increase heat-related heart disease Extreme heat can increase the risk of heart attacks, strokes and other serious cardiovascular events, particularly among older adults and people with existing heart conditions. As summer temperatures begin to climb across much of the country, researchers are taking a closer look at what that could mean for public health. A new study from Case Western Reserve University, University Hospitals and the Cleveland Veterans Affairs Medical Center projects that as climate change leads to more frequent extreme heat events, heat-related heart disease could increase by 200% nationwide over the next 25 years. To end the hour, we'll talk with two of the researchers behind the study about what they found, who could be most affected and what can be done to reduce the risks. Guests:- Gokul Parameswaran, Research Associate, Cardiovascular Research Institute, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University- Salil Deo, M.D., Associate Professor, Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine has paused a sales tax break for data centers after the state Department of Taxation underestimated the cost of the exemption by nearly $1.6 billion. Cleveland is looking to invest in housing in the historically redlined East Side neighborhoods of Hough, Central and St. Clair-Superior by combining public funds and foundation money. Akron's first civic assembly focused on housing solutions has come to an end. Delegates approved nine recommendations, including zoning reform and a proposed housing docket in Akron Municipal Court that would track housing cases and disputes. After 72 years, the Senior Players Championship will play its final round at Akron's Firestone Country Club in July. The tournament is moving to California, a financial blow to Northeast Ohio. At its new location, Newport Beach Country Club, the tournament will be played March 25-28 instead of during the summer. And midges are back in Northeast Ohio. They hatched this week as Lake Erie water temperatures reached 60 degrees, but their stay will not last long. Once they emerge from the water, their sole goal is to reproduce before dying just a few days later. These stories and more will be part of this week's discussion on the “Sound of Ideas Reporters Roundtable.” Guests: - Anna Huntsman, Akron/Canton Reporter, Ideastream Public Media - Conor Morris, Education Reporter, Ideastream Public Media - Karen Kasler, Bureau Chief, Ideastream Statehouse News Bureau

Ohio Medicaid Fraud Allegations For months, there have been headlines coming out of Minnesota that millions of dollars have been taken from taxpayers through Medicaid fraud. Now, there are claims that Ohio's Medicaid system has also been taken advantage of, particularly as it relates to how individuals are providing in-home caregiving. The issue is also being politicized, with Vice President JD Vance weighing in, as well as the leading gubernatorial candidates speaking out on the campaign trail. On Tuesday Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Director, Dr. Mehmet Oz was in suburban Columbus calling for reforms to the state's medicaid system. To begin Thursday's "Sound of Ideas," we'll dissect some of those fraud allegations, and wade into the political attacks being levied by lawmakers. Guests: - Tara Britton, Director of Public Policy and Advocacy, The Center for Community Solutions - Karen Kasler, Bureau Chief, Ideastream Statehouse News Bureau "The Menu: The Flats Evolves" Then, we shift our gaze to the banks of the Cuyahoga River, and the swaths of land in Downtown Cleveland known as The Flats. That area has seen plenty of change over the decades, with new restaurants opening and closing seemingly ever year. We'll speak with a business owner and a chef who have recently rebranded establishments on the east bank and west bank of The Flats. Guests: - Ryan Boone, Executive Chef, Shooters - Bobby Rutter, COO, Forward Hospitality Group

The cities of Cleveland and Brook Park settled a long-standing disagreement this week that will clear the way for the Cleveland to redevelop the I-X Center. For decades, the two cities had been involved in a dispute over land involving a never-built runway at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. Cuyahoga County and the city's pro sports teams want to ask voters to increase the current "sin tax" to help pay for the ever-growing list of repairs at sports arenas and stadiums. Currently, Cuyahoga County taxes liquor and cigarettes to pay for that upkeep but the amount generated is insufficient to keep up with the needs. A coalition calling itself "Flock No" is demanding that the city cut ties with Flock Safety, a surveillance company that contracts to provide automatic license plate readers to cities and towns. Cleveland currently has a contract with Flock that is up for renewal. Akron Mayor Shammas Malik says his administration will roll out legislation soon to improve housing in the city. Additional housing initiatives will be presented by the city's first-ever civic assembly, Unify Akron, according to Malik. The topic was a focus of Malik's State of the City speech on Tuesday. And a proposed Cleveland City Council ordinance may increase the penalties for threatening behaviors toward healthcare workers in the city's hospital systems. The legislation would make it a first-degree misdemeanor to menace a hospital worker and requires at least a three-day jail sentence if the menacing occurs while on the job. These stories and more will be part of this week's discussion on the “Sound of Ideas Reporters Roundtable.” Guests: - Kabir Bhatia, Sr. Reporter, Arts & Culture, Ideastream Public Media - Michelle Jarboe, Reporter, News 5 Cleveland, WEWS - Karen Kasler, Bureau Chief, Ideastream Statehouse News Bureau

Can hundreds of acres of abandoned industrial land on a neglected section of Cleveland's East Side become an economic engine, providing accessible jobs where employees can walk or bike to work on new multipurpose trails. That's the strategy behind the Midline, an ambitious redevelopment project announced this week. From aspirational development to unwanted development, namely a data center in Slavic Village. Cleveland denied a permit for what would have been the largest hyperscale data center in the city, on 35 acres in the Slavic Village neighborhood. Cleveland joins a number of communities where data centers are being protested or rejected. It's an issue state lawmakers are paying attention to. A new bi-partisan committee of the legislature will focus on data centers as public concerns grow around the mega sites' use of energy, and the data industry pushes back. Cleveland's Planning Commission will get a look Friday at a new plan for University Circle that looks to make the area known as Cleveland "second Downtown" more accessible and safer for pedestrians and motorists alike. Sherwin-Williams finally cut the ribbon this week on its towering new headquarters in Downtown Cleveland. The building is the fourth-tallest building in the city and the sixth tallest in Ohio. The company announced plans for a new headquarters in 2019 and for a brief time considered moving out of state. The opening was slowed by construction delays. The Tenth District Court of Appeals in Columbus will decide whether using public education money for private school vouchers violates the state constitution. A three-judge panel heard arguments this week in a lawsuit filed in 2022 by a coalition representing more than half of the state's school districts. The monitor overseeing the U.S. Justice Department's consent decree with Cleveland meant to improve policing offered an 11-point plan to get Cleveland in compliance with the federal decree. Last week, just after we finished this show, a federal judge rejected the city's bid to exit the 11-year-old consent decree, saying more work was needed to reach compliance. These stories and more will be part of this week's discussion the “Sound of Ideas Reporters Roundtable. Guests: -Abbey Marshall, Local Government Reporter, Ideastream Public Media -Matt Richmond, Criminal Justice Reporter, Ideastream Public Media -Karen Kasler, Bureau Chief, Ideastream Statehouse News Bureau

Part 1:We talk with Michael Tomasky, Editor, The New Republic.We discuss the number of millionaires and billionaires in the US and their influence on government and the laws that are created to benefit them. We also discuss how the Supreme Court has misinterpreted the Constitution, and abrogated laws that the Congress has passed.Part 2:We talk with Chris Lehmann, D.C. Bureau Chief, The Nation Magazine.We discuss Trump's behavior, which can be characterized as a "mob boss". There is an avalanche of corruption, including his children and his associates, profiting from government moneys. Crypto currency, a know vehicle for concealment of funds, seems to be the main or important factor. What can be done to end this?  WNHNFM.ORG  productionMusic: "That's how every empire falls, " John Prine

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost will not finish his term through the end of this year. Instead, he is joining the Alliance Defending Freedom as vice president for strategic research and innovation. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. addressed a crowd at The City Club of Cleveland last night while protesters lined the Euclid Avenue sidewalk outside. An independent review of the Akron Police Department recommends 58 action steps to improve policing. The recommendations include expanded training focused on crisis intervention and alternatives to force during encounters involving people experiencing mental health crises. And Cleveland has launched a trapping program to help residents deal with nuisance critters. For years, City Council has received complaints about groundhogs, raccoons and skunks. 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 - Zaria Johnson, Reporter, Ideastream Public Media - Karen Kasler, Bureau Chief, Ideastream Statehouse News Bureau

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost will not finish his term through the end of this year. Instead, he is joining the Alliance Defending Freedom as vice president for strategic research and innovation. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. addressed a crowd at The City Club of Cleveland last night while protesters lined the Euclid Avenue sidewalk outside. An independent review of the Akron Police Department recommends 58 action steps to improve policing. The recommendations include expanded training focused on crisis intervention and alternatives to force during encounters involving people experiencing mental health crises. And Cleveland has launched a trapping program to help residents deal with nuisance critters. For years, City Council has received complaints about groundhogs, raccoons and skunks. 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 - Zaria Johnson, Reporter, Ideastream Public Media - Karen Kasler, Bureau Chief, Ideastream Statehouse News Bureau

Ohio Primary results The pivotal midterm elections have snapped into focus after the conclusion of the largely predictable results in the Ohio primary. Voters will decide the next governor between Republican Vivek Ramaswamy, Democrat Amy Acton and Libertarian Don Kissick. All the other statewide executive offices will also be up for grabs as the current officeholders are term-limited. Sherrod Brown will attempt to return to the Senate. He will face Jon Husted in November. It's a race being watched nationally and will draw huge spending The biggest questions of the night were in school and other issue races where taxpayers were asked to consider increases to funding. It was a tough night for many school districts across Northeast Ohio as voters turned back a number of levy requests including in Mentor. But Lakewood and Lorain City Schools passed levies. Districts who turned to earned-income taxes instead of property taxes found voters largely against that funding method including in Parma and New Philadelphia. We're going to talk about some of the results of the primary in the first part of the show, including voters in Richland County upholding a ban on utility-scale solar and wind projects in most townships there. Guests: -Conor Morris, Education Reporter, Ideastream Public Media -Zaria Johnson, Education Reporter, Ideastream Public Media -Karen Kasler, Bureau Chief, Ideastream Statehouse News Bureau 2026 Anisfield-Wolf Book Award winners The Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards started in Cleveland 91 years ago. It recognizes books that address racism and diversity, selected for recognition by a panel of judges. And the 2026 honorees were recently announced. This year's class is made up of four debut authors - exclusively new literary voices that represent a global perspective. Guest: -Kortney Morrow, Program Director, Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards Cleveland Orchestra Opera & Humanities Festival Next week at Severance Music Center, audiences can experience the sights and sounds of political intrigue, courage and jazz. It's the Cleveland Orchestra's Mandel Opera and Humanities Festival. This is the fourth year that the orchestra has come together with cultural institutions, including Ideastream, to explore a common theme. This year, the theme is courage. Guests: -Kabir Bhatia, Sr. Arts Reporter, Ideastream Public Media -Terence Blanchard, Festival Curator, Musician

Mea Culpa welcomes back to the show, legendary newsman David Corn. Corn is the Bureau Chief of Mother Jones and an on-air analyst for MSNBC. Corn and Michael Isikoff “co-authored, “Russian Roulette, The Inside Story of Putin's War on America and the Election of Donald Trump”. He's also the author of four New York Times best-selling books and was the long-time Washington editor for “The Nation”. For a good read, check out “Our Land”. His twice-weekly newsletter that covers everything from news of the day to entertainment, but all told in Corn's no-bullshit style. Corn has been published multiple times, but his latest bestseller,” American Psychosis: A Historical Investigation of How the Republican Party Went Crazy” is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the unprecedented times we live in. David and Michael take about the Georgia investigation, and what's coming for Trump on all the different legal fronts.

The Browns officially broke ground on a new Brook Park football complex this week. The event drew some high-profile guests, including Gov. Mike DeWine and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. On the same day, planners hired a new consultant to determine how to develop the Cleveland lakefront without a stadium. 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

Dr. Beth Knobel, former CBS News Moscow Bureau Chief, and Professor at Fordham University joins Megan Lynch. She explains the relationships between Russia, Iran and Ukraine. What is the relationship between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin?

Two great guests for the price of one yet again on Breitbart News Daily! Join our simply delightful host, Mike Slater as he gabs with: Breitbart's London Bureau Chief, Oliver Lane, about the United Kingdom's King Charles III and his ongoing state visit to the United States of America. What will the historic monarch of America's nearest ancestor say and do while in MAGA Land? Ollie has some ideas! AND Breitbart Senior Writer John Nolte on President Donald J. Trump's latest brush with an assassination attempt and subsequent appearance on CBS's 60 Minutes program. How does this keep happening? Why does the media act like it does after these events do down? John opines on all of this in a way that only he can. MAGA! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The grassroots group seeking to abolish Ohio's property taxes said Thursday it is about halfway to its signature-gathering goal and acknowledged the issue may need to target the 2027 ballot instead. Ax Ohio Tax said it has collected more than 300,000 signatures toward a mid-June goal of 620,000. The group faces a July 1 deadline to submit more than 400,000 valid signatures from at least half of Ohio's counties to qualify for the November ballot. 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

Central Ohio has become a magnet for data center development, drawing global tech companies and fueling economic growth. But as these massive facilities expand, communities are grappling with big questions about energy demand, land use, infrastructure strain, and environmental impact. Leaders from industry, government, and academia explore the real trade-offs—and what it will take to balance growth with sustainability in one of the region's fastest-growing sectors. Featuring: Ryan Augsburger, President, The Ohio Manufacturers' Association Dr. Jeffrey Bielicki, Associate Faculty Director of Research, The Ohio State University Sustainability Institute Timothy Chadwick, Area Operations Manager for Ohio, Google Christopher Wyche, Columbus City Councilmember The host is Karen Kasler, Bureau Chief, The Statehouse News Bureau. This forum was sponsored by The Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District, The Ohio Chamber of Commerce, and The Ohio Manufacturers' Association. The presenting sponsor of the CMC livestream was The Center for Human Kindness at the Columbus Foundation. CMC's livestream partner was The Columbus Dispatch. This forum was also supported by Downtown Columbus, Inc. and The National Veterans Memorial and Museum. If you would like to keep exploring this week's forum topic, our partners at The Columbus Metropolitan Library recommend reading The Dark Cloud: The Hidden Costs of the Digital World by Guillaume Pitron (2023). This forum was recorded before a live audience at The National Veterans Memorial and Museum in Columbus, Ohio on April 22, 2026.

Mea Culpa welcomes back the legendary David Corn. Corn, a veteran Washington journalist, is the Bureau Chief of Mother Jones and an on-air analyst for MSMBC. Corn and Michael Isikoff “co-authored, “Russian Roulette, The Inside Story of Putin's War on America and the Election of Donald Trump”. He's also the author of four New York Times best-selling books and was the long-time Washington editor for “The Nation”. Check out his twice weekly newsletter “Our Land” that covers the news of the day and delivers his no-BS analysis on everything from DC politics to entertainment — Corn has been published in too many times to name, but his latest bestseller,” American Psychosis: A Historical Investigation of How the Republican Party Went Crazy” is a must-read for anyone interested in history and setting the record straight. Michael and David dig deep into the new GOP reign of the house, Jim Jordan, and the IRS.

Breitbart London Bureau Chief Oliver JJ Lane And Mike Waxes Poetic About Artemis II And The American Spirit Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Today's podcast features our fantastic host, Mike Slater, exploring the "regular" life of a modern American progressive. Get ready to be shocked by this clown show! It must be hear to be believed! Following that opener, Slater chats with Oliver Lane, Breitbart's London Bureau Chief, about the latest happenings with America's war on Iran and how European countries are reacting to it. The good, the bad, and the ugly all get discussed here. Don't miss it! MAGA! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

We welcome back to Mea Culpa David Corn, the veteran Washington journalist, Bureau Chief from Mother Jones and an on-air analyst for MSNBC. Corn co-authored with Michael Isikoff “Russian Roulette, The Inside Story of Putin's War on America and the Election of Donald Trump." He's also the author of three New York Times best selling books and was the long time Washington editor of “The Nation”. Check out his twice weekly newsletter “Our Land” that covers the news of the day and delivers his no-BS analysis on everything from DC politics to his entertainment recommendations. He has a new book coming out next week entitled, "American Psychosis: A Historical Investigation of How the Republican Party Went Crazy.”

There's continued fallout from the United States of America's recent decisions related to using its military to attack the nation of Iran and kill its leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Please join our host, Mike Slater, as he speaks with Breitbart London Bureau Chief Oliver about the European reactions to these attacks. Following that, Mr. Slater chats with Dr. Jacob Pursley, a missionary in Armenia, about how all of this fresh war in the Middle East will impact his crusade to spread the Christian word!  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Send a textWell,We've made it to the last episode of this series! I'm so glad, and honored, to be a part of him telling the stories that impacted him on a personal and professional level. He has been a great guest.We chat about John's second and third shootings in this episode. We discuss the fact that these are some of the worst days, but as a leader you wish that if this day must come, it would be you so that you could take the burden off of your friend's shoulders. I have a lot of respect for John, and so many other folks I worked amongst, for having that selfless mindset of a warrior.Please tune in, tell your friends, and let's show John some love for his last spin on the podcast!!!Come see me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/choir.practice.94 or on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/cp_sfaf/

Presentism is a crucial part of "Trump Derangement Syndrome", but what is presentism? Our passionate host, Mike Slater, will explain with one seriously epic opening monologue!Following that, Mike speaks with Breitbart's London Bureau Chief, Oliver Lane, about the latest happening with the Trump 2.0 Administration in Davos, Switzerland for The World Economic Forum! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Send us a textIt has been a few weeks, so I'm glad John returned to keep working his way through his 26+ year career here in Pima County.I appreciate his time, the great stories and I also enjoy the conversations about leadership and doing the right thing, even when no one else is around. We've said it here before, "You know when you see good leadership and you definitely know when you see poor leadership."John and I discuss some of the folks we placed on pedestals because of their leadership abilities. I've also got him scheduled for another interview in the next couple weeks and we're hoping to wrap up his career and his personal legacy.Thank you all, enjoy the show...Come see me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/choir.practice.94 or on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/cp_sfaf/

In this special episode of Along the Lines, Ben Limmer reflects on his role as Bureau Chief of Public Transportation at the Connecticut Department of Transportation and signs off as host. He highlights major rail and bus milestones, innovation, and the people behind Connecticut's transit system. Ben shares gratitude, lessons learned, and optimism for the future of mobility across the state as he bids a heartfelt farewell.

From October 9, 2024: For today's episode, Loyaan Egal, the Chief of the Enforcement Bureau at the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”), sat down with Lawfare Senior Editor and General Counsel Scott R. Anderson and Lawfare Contributing Editor and Morrison Foerster partner Brandon Van Grack to discuss the FCC's growing but often underappreciated role in advancing U.S. national security. They covered how the FCC's mandate intersects with U.S. national security concerns, how the FCC is tackling cutting-edge issues ranging from undersea cables to artificial intelligence-enabled election interference, and what other national security challenges the FCC is looking out for on the horizon. This episode is part of our special series, “The Regulators,” co-sponsored with Morrison Foerster, in which Brandon and Scott sit down with senior U.S. officials working at the front lines of U.S. national security and economic statecraft.To receive ad-free podcasts, become a Lawfare Material Supporter at www.patreon.com/lawfare. You can also support Lawfare by making a one-time donation at https://givebutter.com/lawfare-institute.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/lawfare. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Things aren't what they used to be when it comes to schools in this country! Our studious host, Mike Slater, is here to break it all down in places like Charlotte, North Carolina and San Diego, California! Can our education system even be saved by MAGA's might?!?!Following that opener, Slater gabs with Breitbart's London Bureau Chief, Oliver Lane, about President Donald J. Trump's ongoing beef with The British Broadcasting Corporation. Is it justified? Tune in and find out! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

1. Nimitz Takes Command at Pearl Harbor: Manager vs. Fighter AUTHOR: Professor Craig Symonds BOOK TITLE: Nimitz at War: Command Leadership from Pearl Harbor to Tokyo Bay Chester Nimitz arrived at Pearl Harbor by seaplane on Christmas 1941 to take over a wrecked command, tasked with bringing stability and recovery. He was chosen by FDR and Secretary Knox, who knew him personally from his time as Bureau Chief of Naval Personnel. Admiral Ernest King, however, was initially skeptical, viewing Nimitz as a "fixer" or manager, doubting his toughness. Nimitz, despite private anxieties, maintained a calm, confident presence for his staff. A key irony is that Nimitz had previously suggested a more senior officer (Kimmel) take the Pacific Fleet command, saving himself from being the victim of the Japanese attack. The Navy's internal "brown shoes" (aviators) versus "black shoes" rivalry is also introduced. 1890 USS NAHUNT