Épisodes

  • Minneapolis journalist says mood is 'tense' following fatal shootings by federal agents

    Minneapolis journalist says mood is 'tense' following fatal shootings by federal agents
    Feb 4 2026
    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
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    51 min
  • Could loosening power outage regulations leave Ohioans in the dark longer?

    Could loosening power outage regulations leave Ohioans in the dark longer?
    Feb 3 2026
    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.
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    49 min
  • 'Sovereign citizens' who refuse to share ID with police could face harsher penalty | Law of The Land

    'Sovereign citizens' who refuse to share ID with police could face harsher penalty | Law of The Land
    Feb 2 2026
    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
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    51 min
  • Ohio leaders prepare for potential of immigration enforcement in Springfield | Reporters Roundtable

    Ohio leaders prepare for potential of immigration enforcement in Springfield | Reporters Roundtable
    Jan 30 2026
    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
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    50 min
  • Ohio leaders, experts react to latest deaths by federal officers in Minneapolis

    Ohio leaders, experts react to latest deaths by federal officers in Minneapolis
    Jan 29 2026
    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
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    49 min
  • Mental health providers aim to reach men who are resistant to therapy

    Mental health providers aim to reach men who are resistant to therapy
    Jan 28 2026
    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
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    52 min
  • Planned RTA project in Ohio City gets pushback from business owners

    Planned RTA project in Ohio City gets pushback from business owners
    Jan 27 2026
    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
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    51 min
  • Regional rock salt shortage impacting Northeast Ohio cities | Reporters Roundtable

    Regional rock salt shortage impacting Northeast Ohio cities | Reporters Roundtable
    Jan 23 2026
    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
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    51 min