Dear Ohio - Politics, Issues, and People
The political system can feel like a complicated and gridlocked machine that we have little ability to influence. The truth is, you CAN change things when you know how. Enter Spectrum News 1 Anchor Curtis Jackson, who brings to the table decades of experience covering political news and events. Join him for meaningful conversations with decision-makers that will help guide listeners to an actionable understanding of the issues in Ohio.
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Severe summer weather and how to stay safe
07/05/2022
Severe summer weather and how to stay safe
Ohioans often get to benefit from blue skies and sunny days that come with Midwestern summers, but while many people turn their focus on fun in the sun, severe weather in Ohio comes in multiple forms across the Buckeye State. During Memorial Day weekend 2019 encountered 21 tornadoes across western and central Ohio, and already in 2022, a one-week span saw 10 tornadoes. Guest host Chuck Ringwalt talks with Spectrum News 1 Chief Meteorologist Eric Elwell and Spectrum News 1 Meteorologist Andrew Kozak about why Ohio sees severe weather from tornadoes to floods and extreme heat, and how to stay safe during those events.
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Pride Month - Does equality exist in the Buckeye State
06/28/2022
Pride Month - Does equality exist in the Buckeye State
June is Pride Month, and often those who honor it celebrate with festivals, parades and more. It’s seen as a visible way for the LGBTQ community and allies to celebrate who they are. Guest host Mike Kallmeyer spoke with state Sen. Nickie Antonio, D-Lakewood, the first openly gay state representative in Ohio; Hamilton County Sheriff Charmaine McGuffey, the first openly gay sheriff in Hamilton County; and Key Beck, interim senior manager of clinical prevention programs at Equitas Health, to discuss what efforts are being done across Ohio on behalf of the LGBTQ+ community. While many feel like great strides have been made in LGBTQ+ rights, some still say there is a long way to go to truly reach equality.
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Ensuring a response to 911 - Addressing the paramedic shortage
06/21/2022
Ensuring a response to 911 - Addressing the paramedic shortage
When someone picks up the phone to call 9-1-1, the expectation is first responders will shortly dispatch and be on their way to help during the crisis. During the COVID-19 pandemic, however, staffing at departments across the state saw emergency medical professionals leaving the career or taking jobs elsewhere for a variety of reasons. Guest host Mike Kallmeyer speaks with Rep. Brian Baldridge, R-Winchester; Brian Hathaway, president and CEO of Spirit Medical Transport in Greenville; and Eric Burgess, president of the OHIO EMS Chiefs Association; to discuss how new guidelines, training and funding may encourage those interested to join the career field.
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So you want to be a rock 'n roll star?
06/14/2022
So you want to be a rock 'n roll star?
The roar of the crowd, the shining lights and the boom of the drum accompanied by a guitar, the life of a rock star is something many dream about as kids, but only the talented and frankly the lucky get to live out the dream. While many think the first step on the road to rock ‘n roll fame is a move to Los Angeles, New York or another metropolis, is it possible to build a grassroots following into fame? Spectrum News 1 reporter and anchor Chuck Ringwalt guest hosts and speaks to longtime radio dj Randy Malloy, also owner of CD 92.9, an independent alternative rock station; and Kenzie Coyne, front woman for Hello Luna, a Columbus area group, to discuss the ever-changing music landscape and how bands work to get their sound out to their listeners.
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What to expect from the Jan. 6 Committee hearings
06/07/2022
What to expect from the Jan. 6 Committee hearings
The select committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the United States Capitol will begin a series of public hearings June 9 to outline its findings. In the 17 months since supporters of former President Donald Trump stormed the Capitol to stop the certification of the 2020 election, the committee has interviewed more than 1,000 people and subpoenaed five Republican members of Congress, including Ohio’s Jim Jordan. Spectrum News 1 Washington Bureau Reporter Taylor Popielarz guest hosts and speaks with two Ohio political scientists, David Cohen of the University of Akron and Robert Alexander of Ohio Northern University, who study democracy and have been outspoken about it since the Capitol insurrection.
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A congressional legacy - The Latta family's call to service
05/31/2022
A congressional legacy - The Latta family's call to service
Taking over the family business or following in a parent’s footsteps professionally is something millions of Americans do. But what about when the family business is the United States Congress? Republican Rep. Bob Latta, OH-5, has been in office since 2007. Long before that, his father, the late Delbert Latta, represented the same northwest Ohio district for 30 years. Spectrum News 1 Washington Bureau Reporter Taylor Popielarz guest hosts and speaks with Bob Latta about what it was like growing up with a parent in Congress, whether pursuing politics himself was a given because of it and if the type of family affair helps or hurts the federal government.
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Athlete suicide awareness
05/24/2022
Athlete suicide awareness
Matt Triplet has coached high school sports for more than 20 years, but in 2018, a phone call made him aware of a potentially suicidal athlete, an issue that has been growing in recent years. As the conversation happened, he began feeling he was unequipped to handle the situation fully. He then set up a seminar for lacrosse coaches in central Ohio. With a low turnout, he continued to work for a solution. Guest host Mindy Drayer speaks to him about House Bill 492, which would require coaches to have mental health training as part of their pupil activity permit certification process. The requirement would join existing trainings for a PAP certification, including CPR, cardiac arrest, concussion and first aid. The National Suicide Hotline is 800-273-8255.
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What overturning Roe v. Wade could mean for medical liberty
05/17/2022
What overturning Roe v. Wade could mean for medical liberty
Abortion rights are a polarizing and complicated issue. Protests and counterprotests since the leaked draft opinion of the U.S. Supreme Court shows how invested many Americans are in the topic. But the leak, and possibility of the court reverse one of its own precedents, raises the question: How much power should government have in decisions Americans make about their healthcare? Curtis Jackson speaks with Sharona Hoffman, professor of law and bioethics and codirector of Case Western Reserve University Law-Medicine Center, to discuss if abortion rights would be the end of the decision or if it opens the door to overturn other rights and affect individual privacy.
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What's the primary election say about the Ohio Republican Party?
05/10/2022
What's the primary election say about the Ohio Republican Party?
The Republican Senate primary in Ohio saw the most money ever spent on a race for an open Senate seat in the Buckeye State, and a cutthroat race for the attention and approval of former President Donald Trump — a stark difference from the campaigns of George Voinovich and Rob Portman. However, Gov. Mike DeWine was the victor in the gubernatorial primary, looked at as a member of the “country club conservatives,” despite receiving less than half the cast votes. Curtis Jackson speaks with Gary Abernathy, a conservative columnist, to discuss where the GOP appears to be headed in Ohio.
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HB 616 - Proper sex education or prejudice of others?
05/03/2022
HB 616 - Proper sex education or prejudice of others?
The concept of the birds and the bees was a simplified symbolic way to explain sex to youth, but sexuality of today is a more diverse and complicated topic. With more knowledge of the diversity of sexuality comes more questions, like when is the proper age to discuss what topics, and how involved should educators be in the discussions. Bills in various states which some have deemed “Don’t Say Gay” bills limit when and how children learn about sex. The bills also raise questions on diversity, tolerance and inclusion. Ohio House Bill 616 is one of those bills. Curtis Jackson talks to Eva Goldfarb and Lisa Lieberman, professors of public health at Montclair State University, to discuss how and why a firm foundation in sex education for younger students matters in the long run.
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The state of the auto industry
04/26/2022
The state of the auto industry
For more than a year, the shortage of semiconductors, or chips, has frustrated both auto manufacturers and potential buyers. Despite the issue being a money grab for many used car sellers, many want it resolved quickly. Guest host Mike Kallmeyer speaks with Rep. Jason Stephens, R-Kitts Hill; Dan "Boots" Longenette, owner of Auto Smarts Media and the host of the Auto Smarts Radio Show; and Zach Doran, president of the Ohio Automobile Dealers Association to get a firmer grasp on where the auto industry is, and if there's a chance it will be running on full cylinders anytime soon.
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Judy Hodge - Recovery from cancer and COVID
04/19/2022
Judy Hodge - Recovery from cancer and COVID
Judy Hodge has spent a great amount of her life trying to help others. For decades, Hodge worked as a music teacher and also volunteered her time with things like knitting hats for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. But Hodge became the one who needed cared for when her health took a turn for the worse. Guest host Mindy Drayer speaks with Hodge who tells her story of surviving lung cancer, but then being on a ventilator for multiple months fighting COVID-19. She tells her story of survival, purpose and a community the prayed for her.
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Ohio tourism — Recovery from the pandemic
04/12/2022
Ohio tourism — Recovery from the pandemic
Amusement parks, Lake Erie, professional sports and state parks are just some of the options that make up Ohio’s multi-billion dollar tourism industry. In 2019, Ohio saw a record year in tourism with $48 billion spent in Ohio before COVID-19 struck. Though with outdoor attractions like Hocking Hills, Amish country and others helping Ohio tourism stay active during the pandemic, business tourism still has catching up to do. Guest host Mindy Drayer speaks with Ohio tourism director Matt MacLaren to discuss the more than 1,000 items listed in Ohio’s tourism guide and how the state is working to return to pre-pandemic tourism glory.
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Intel's impact on the Ohio landscape
04/04/2022
Intel's impact on the Ohio landscape
According to SemiConductors.org, computer chip manufacturing in the United States declined from 37% in 1990 to just 12%. That trend looks to change with the announcement of new Intel production facilities in Licking County, Ohio. Guest host Mike Kallmeyer speaks with Rep. Troy Balderson, OH-12; Licking County Commissioner Tim Bubb and Johnstown Mayor Chip Dutcher on what planning is being done at the local and state level to prepare for what some have called the future “Silicon Valley of the Midwest.”
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Economic recovery from COVID — Two years after shutdown
03/28/2022
Economic recovery from COVID — Two years after shutdown
State and federal restrictions brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic forced many Ohioans out of work, causing skyrocketing unemployment claims. Businesses also had to make the tough decision to close or find alternative ways to operate. Guest host Mike Kallemeyer speaks with Ohio Lt. Gov. Jon Husted, JobsOhio CEO J.P. Nauseef and Ohio Chamber of Commerce CEO Steve Stivers to discuss the two-year anniversary of the pandemic and its effect on jobs across the state. They look at how employment in Ohio bounced back after the COVID-19 restrictions began to recede.
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Daylight Saving Time — What's the point?
03/21/2022
Daylight Saving Time — What's the point?
“Springing forward” and “falling back” are common phrases people use to remember to set their clocks forward or back an hour for the beginning and end of Daylight Saving Time. But why does Daylight Saving Time exist when not all 50 U.S. states observe the time change? Farmers often get the blame, but is it warranted? Guest host and Spectrum News 1 agriculture reporter Chuck Ringwalt speaks with Spectrum News 1 ag expert Andy Vance and Leah Curtis, policy counsel and senior director of member engagement for the Ohio Farm Bureau. They discuss how Daylight Saving Time started, why it exists and what's being done to modernize the time by which we all run our lives.
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Should we start worrying about the bomb?
03/15/2022
Should we start worrying about the bomb?
Concerns of nuclear fallout span decades, especially for those who lived through the peak of the Cold War. As Russia continues its attack on Ukraine, those concerns are growing. Curtis Jackson spoke with Daryl Kimball, executive director of the Arms Control Association, to discuss the ramifications of nuclear war, arms control agreements and answers the question: "Should we worry about nuclear war right now?"
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The rise in carjacking crimes
03/07/2022
The rise in carjacking crimes
Carjacking cases are on the rise, and are among a notable increase among violent crimes during the pandemic. In some cases, police are arresting teens and children for the crimes. The John Jay Center for Criminal Justice reported the disturbing trend includes underage suspects who are carjacking drivers with the goal of committing another crime moments later. Curtis Jackson speaks with Justin Herdman, former U.S. Attorney of the Northern District of Ohio, to discuss carjacking crimes, why they are sometimes particularly violent and what listeners may do to protect themselves.
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The bond between Ukraine and Ohio
02/28/2022
The bond between Ukraine and Ohio
Russia continues to attack Ukraine in the air, sea and on the ground. While the world watches, Ohioans with Ukrainian ties — including a large population in northeast Ohio — have special interest in preserving Ukraine as a nation and a culture in the U.S. Curtis Jackson spoke with Andy Fedynsky, Director of the Ukrainian Museum-Archives in the Tremont neighborhood of Cleveland, to discuss first-hand knowledge of the bond between Ukraine and Ohio, and to get more insight into the crisis in Ukraine. Fedynsky is the son of immigrants and was born in a refugee camp. He discusses the Ukrainian Museum-Archives center, the history of the facility and the records it houses, and how much Ukrainian Americans contribute to our state and nation.
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The Russia and Ukraine crisis
02/21/2022
The Russia and Ukraine crisis
Thousands of Ohioans trace their roots to Ukraine, especially a large population in northeast Ohio, and many of the largest supporting voices for Ukraine in Washington, D.C. represent Ohio in Congress. Curtis Jackson speaks with Steven Miner, a history professor at Ohio University, to take an in-depth and intimate look into Russia and its often tumultuous history with Ukraine. Miner talks at length about what makes Ukraine unique in eastern Europe and why Russia has found it to be virtually irresistible during the past centuries. The discussion highlights complicated topography, geopolitics and war.
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Banning books and the effects on education
02/15/2022
Banning books and the effects on education
To many, book banning and burnings probably seem like an issue found in small towns in movies like Footloose, but since the publishing of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn in the 1880s, the banning of books has been a part of our society. Challenged classics, like To Kill a Mockingbird and Of Mice and Men, to modern stories continue to face backlash from parents and organizations who want to implement their beliefs in schools. Curtis Jackson speaks with Ashley Perez, literature professor at Ohio State University and author of the banned book, "Out Of Darkness," to talk about book banning and the effect that it's having on children in education.
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Pet adoption and overpopulation
02/07/2022
Pet adoption and overpopulation
State legislation requires all 88 counties to maintain a dog shelter, but in some instances, that is where the mandatory care for animals stops. Some people are hopeful, however, as individual municipalities are creating more animal care requirements and humane societies work for pet population control and humane treatment. Guest host Mindy Drayer talks with Kellie Difrischia, Director of the Columbus Dog Connection; and Julie Mercer, of Pike Pet Pals, how the people of Ohio can help to care for pets across the state, how the cat overpopulation problem is "10 times worse" than dogs and how humane societies do not receive government funding.
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Redrawing legislative maps, again
01/31/2022
Redrawing legislative maps, again
Ohio voters continue to receive partisan and gerrymandered maps as a result of the process currently in place that puts state politicians in charge of the redistricting process. The first group of maps already were struck down by the Ohio Supreme Court and the second set are receiving objections. Curtis Jackson speaks with multiple law and politics experts to discuss if a citizen panel, like the nationally-acclaimed one used in Michigan where panel members are vetted for no obvious political bias, is the way to go.
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The evolution of 'Late Night' from Johnny Carson
01/24/2022
The evolution of 'Late Night' from Johnny Carson
Johnny Carson is considered by many as the golden standard for what late night talk shows should be. Carson’s balance of comedy and politics and his style of hosting a top-rated late night comedy show is seen as very different from today's late-night stars, including Fallon, Kimmel and Colbert. Curtis Jackson speaks with Brian Calfano, Spectrum News 1 contributor and journalism professor at the University of Cincinnati, to discuss Calfano’s latest research effort, an in-depth look at Carson’s work, giving a picture of how the nature of late night’s interface with political topics has changed in 50 years.
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Attracting IT talent to Ohio
01/18/2022
Attracting IT talent to Ohio
Ohio is being considered for the site of a large new semiconductor factory outside Columbus and is already home to Amazon fulfillment centers and dozens of tech-based startups and organizations.
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Stressful times and how to deal with it
01/10/2022
Stressful times and how to deal with it
COVID-19, politics, employment and more have caused one of the most stressful times many people have experienced during the past two years.
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First anniversary of Jan. 6 insurrection
01/03/2022
First anniversary of Jan. 6 insurrection
“Remember, remember the 5th of November — the gunpowder, treason and plot.” The British nursery rhyme recalls the foiled plot to destroy the House of Lords and assassinate King James I. Nov. 5 is celebrated by the British as the day the plot against the government and king failed.
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Gov. Mike DeWine reviews 2021 and looks ahead
12/27/2021
Gov. Mike DeWine reviews 2021 and looks ahead
Ohioans have seen a turbulent year in politics in 2021, involving the COVID-19 pandemic, gerrymandered redistricting and more.
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Adverse childhood experiences and trauma
12/20/2021
Adverse childhood experiences and trauma
Adverse Childhood Experiences are traumatic experiences that can be divided into categories of abuse, neglect and household challenges. A study found a connection between exposure to ACEs and multiple risk factors in the leading causes of death in adults.
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Ohio Supreme Court — Redistricting Challenges
12/13/2021
Ohio Supreme Court — Redistricting Challenges
The Ohio Supreme Court heard oral arguments on three challenges to the redistricting and gerrymandering of Ohio's legislative districts that would ensure the GOP keeps a veto-proof supermajority at the Statehouse.
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