A Weekly Podcast Covering the Stories That Matter Across All of Ohio
Crooked River Cast is hosted by Robert and Tom
Two lifelong Northeast Ohioans bringing sharp commentary and dry humor to the region’s news, politics, and everyday absurdities. From the bizarre to the bureaucratic, they say what others won’t.
Our goal is to help give our listeners a better view and understanding of what is happening in the great state of Ohio. We focus on northeast Ohio news and politics. CrookedRivercast@gmail.com You can also find us on X: https://x.com/CRCOhioNews
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- Daylight saving: 19 states passed permanent daylight-saving laws that cannot start until Congress acts. Sunshine Protection Act stalled. Clocks still fall back November 1. Hosts want standard time, not daylight time.
- E-Check: Northeast Ohio air now meets federal standards, so the 1996 testing program in seven counties may go, but U.S. EPA still has to sign off. Drivers test for now.
- Gas-tax holiday: DeWine signed a 90-day pause (38.5 cents a gallon on gas, 47 on diesel). Debate over whether wholesalers pocket it and whether the cut is real money at the pump.
- Governor polls: a Suffolk poll has Amy Acton up about 9 on Vivek Ramaswamy, and Sherrod Brown up about 3 on Jon Husted, inside the margin. Hosts note a tighter average and a small likely-voter sample.
- Side by side: Vivek takes a jet-setting billionaire / failed Alzheimer’s-drug question, calls the guy a plant, and keeps going through recorded events and a debate challenge. Amy walks off a questioner about twenty feet away. Line in the clip: no pictures, no interviews. The race in one short. Vivek answered. Amy runs, like she did in 2020.
- Voter ID: photo ID is already law. A GOP push would copy it into the Ohio Constitution. Hosts: you still have to do it. This is codifying what’s already there.
- November money asks: about 30 Northeast Ohio school districts seeking levies, plus Cuyahoga Issue 11 (health and human services renewal and increase).
- Good Things: a Lorain County couple’s 1983 wedding proofs never came back. The album turned up at a garage sale and found its way home about 40 years later.
- Ohio Is Changing the Rules Again — E-Check, Gas Taxes, Elections & More — Crooked River Cast Show #77 🎙
Robert starts us off with another trip to Cedar Point—this time for his youngest daughter’s birthday 🎂, with a birthday wish that includes her friends and, naturally, a trip to the Point. Tom, meanwhile, has been busy with his Muse: Meta’s new release. And apparently he’s having a little too much fun giving it things to do. Searching for guitars and amps, among other things. Geez, Tom. We’re not sure this is going to be good for the household budget. 😂
So how are you using AI? Are you finding new ways to put it to work, or are you just having it search for things you probably shouldn’t be buying? Send us your thoughts at crookedrivercast@gmail.com. We’d love to hear what you’re doing with it.
Robert also gets into some of the new features in the latest Mac OS update, including a few that you may not even know are there. I (your webmaster) found some helpful links..
Sources:
🔗: macOS 26: Features, latest update, release date, beta and more🔗: 6 Cool macOS Features You Probably Don’t Know About
Okay, after that little geek-out session, let’s get into the news of the week.
🕰️ Apparently We’re Still Talking About Daylight Saving Time
Trump is pushing Senate Republicans to move on the Sunshine Protection Act, which would mean yet another attempt to settle the whole “what time is it really?” argument once and for all. Because apparently changing the clocks twice a year is now a national crisis. How Getting Rid of Daylight Saving Time Would Affect Sleep
Which one is better, Daylight or Standard? Let us know which you function better on – Email us!
Source:
🔗: Trump pushes Senate Republicans to pass Sunshine Protection Act
🚗 Is E-Check Finally on Its Way Out?
For Northeast Ohio drivers, this one gets attention. The state is beginning the process of unwinding E-Check, which could finally put an end to the emissions-testing program we’ve been dealing with for years. Of course, nothing in government is ever just “we’re done.” There’s always a process for ending the process.
Sources:
🔗: Could E-Check be ending? Governor asks state EPA to begin unwinding program🔗: Ohio begins process to eliminate E-Check testing across Northeast Ohio
⛽ Gas Prices: Now We Wait
Ohio’s gas tax holiday has been signed, so naturally the next question is: when are we actually going to see the difference at the pump? There’s some relief coming, but the timing—and exactly how much drivers will notice—is where things get interesting.
And yes, the candidates for governor have thoughts. Naturally.
Sources:
🔗: When will I see gas prices lower in Ohio?🔗: Relief at the gas pump coming after Gov. DeWine signs gas tax holiday bill
🔗: Candidates for Ohio governor who both called for gas tax holiday share thoughts on its approval
🗳️ The Governor’s Race Is Getting Interesting
The latest Suffolk poll has Amy Acton up nine points on Vivek Ramaswamy. Then there’s the Ohio Politics Explained discussion breaking down what the numbers actually mean. And because this is 2026 and apparently we can’t just have a normal political discussion, we also have questions about plants. Yes. Plants…well at least Vivek is answering questions.
Sources:
🔗: Suffolk Poll: Acton Up 9 on Ramaswamy; Senate Numbers Held Back🔗: What new poll says about Ohio election – Ohio Politics Explained
🏫 Your Ballot Is About to Get Busy
School districts from Strongsville to Mentor are heading back to voters to try to avoid some pretty significant cuts. Then there are the other races and issues waiting for voters—including the Ohio auditor’s race, Cuyahoga County ballot issues, and a proposed change to Akron’s police oversight board.
So, yes, checking your ballot before Election Day might be a good idea. You can go to Ohiosos.gov to find out.
Sources:
🔗: School districts from Strongsville to Mentor head back to the ballot to avert major cuts🔗: Election 2026: Ohio’s secretary of state faces Cleveland-area mayor for auditor
🔗: Here’s what’s on your ballots in Cuyahoga County this November
🔗: Akron residents to vote on strengthening police oversight board
🎙️ And Then We Go Down a Few More Rabbit Holes
Because one political conversation is never enough. We take a look at The Steady State, hear from Carey Coleman in a candidate spotlight for Ohio’s 13th Congressional District, and then, because apparently politics wasn’t enough for one episode, we take a detour into Netflix Is A Joke.
That’s how we roll.
Sources:
▶️ YouTube: The Steady State▶️ YouTube: Netflix Is A Joke -Why Do People In Government Talk So Weird? | Brian Regan
🌟 Good Things
💍 A Story That Actually Makes You Feel Good
Every week can’t be political chaos. A former Lorain County couple has been reunited with long-lost memories, and it’s the kind of story that reminds you there are still some genuinely wonderful things happening out there. Waiting 42 years to see your wedding photos is a long time! And they found them through a Facebook post, of all things. Well, it just goes to show you — Facebook is good for something. 😂
Source:
🔗: ‘Miracles happen:’ Former Lorain County couple reunited with long-lost memories
🍺 Oktoberfest? Now We’re Talking!
And if you’re looking for something a little more fun, Oktoberfest is happening at The Chalet.
Because after talking about politics, elections, taxes and government programs, a beer sounds like a perfectly reasonable way to wrap things up.
Source:
🔗: Oktoberfest At the Chalet
📢 Subscribe & Share
That’s a wrap on Show #77.
If you enjoyed the conversation, share the episode with somebody who enjoys Ohio news, politics, local stories and the occasional “what the hell is happening now?” moment.
Listen to the show, check out the blog, and stay up to date on everything happening in Ohio at www.crookedrivercast.com. Follow CRC Ohio News on X so you don’t miss what we’re talking about next.