Ohio is never short on things to talk about, and Show #73 is no exception. Robert and Tom kick things off with a little Northeast Ohio celebrity real estate news before getting into some much more serious local questions surrounding cancer diagnoses in Medina County. From there, the conversation moves into the Ohio governor’s race, media and political coverage, growing ICE activity in Springfield, the death of 20-year-old Pierre Damas Bel, and a couple of issues making their way through the Ohio Statehouse. And, as always, they wrap things up with some Good Things happening around Northeast Ohio.
🏡 From Taylor Swift to Medina County Cancer Questions
The show opens with a little Northeast Ohio fun: Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce have reportedly purchased a home in the area for less than the asking price. That leads to some joking about the fact that Taylor will be living right around the corner from where Tom works. Hey, you never know — maybe someday there will be a chance encounter!
But the conversation quickly turns much more serious with a WKYC investigation into Medina County families who are demanding answers after cancer diagnoses began raising concerns in their communities. Hundreds of families have been compiling cancer data and asking whether there could be something more going on. The investigation has also raised questions about a nearby landfill and whether environmental factors deserve a closer look.
Robert and Tom dig into the concerns and the bigger question at hand: when enough families start noticing the same troubling pattern, who should be responsible for investigating what may be happening?
Sources:
🔗: Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce pay less than asking price for NE Ohio home
▶️ YouTube: WKYC Channel 3 Part 1: ‘Something’s wrong’: Medina County families demand answers after cancer diagnoses
🔗: Medina County Cancer Awareness & Support – Facebook Page
🗳️ Ohio’s Governor’s Race: Debate Anyone?
The conversation then shifts to Ohio politics and the 2026 governor’s race. Vivek Ramaswamy has accepted invitations for televised debates, including invitations from CNN and Cincinnati’s WLWT, while Amy Acton’s campaign has rejected the invitation.
The guys talk about what it means when major-party candidates don’t share a debate stage, especially in a race that is already generating plenty of attacks and accusations. Ramaswamy is challenging Acton to debate so voters can make an informed choice, while Acton’s campaign has fired back over what it describes as inaccurate and personal attacks.
And that naturally leads into a little conversation about how political campaigns — and the media covering them — have changed.
Source:
🔗: Debate invitations accepted by Ramaswamy, rebuffed by Acton
📺 When the News Used to Look a Little Different
Robert and Tom also take a look back at an old news clip shared on X, with the observation that it was only about 20 years ago that mainstream news programs regularly produced segments like this.
The guys use it as a jumping-off point for a broader conversation about how television news has changed, what gets covered today, and whether you would see the same kind of reporting on a mainstream news broadcast now.
Source:
🔗: 20 yr. ago news clip on vacs – Jammie AA on X
🚨 Springfield, ICE Activity & a Community on Edge
The conversation then moves to Springfield, where immigration enforcement has become a very real local issue. Video captured at a Springfield car wash appears to show suspected immigration agents detaining a Haitian man and placing him into an unmarked vehicle. The incident drew attention throughout the community, particularly after the expiration of Temporary Protected Status for thousands of Haitians living in Springfield.
That story connects directly to the heartbreaking case of Pierre Damas Bel, a 20-year-old Haitian immigrant and Wright State University student whose family says he died by suicide after struggling with the circumstances surrounding his immigration status and ICE ankle monitor. Bel had been a high-achieving student, a soccer player and a member of JROTC, with plans for his future. His family says the ankle monitor and the stress surrounding his immigration situation had a devastating effect on him. His death remains under investigation.
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine called Bel’s death a “horrible tragedy” and spoke about the young man’s life and potential. The discussion gives Robert and Tom a chance to step back from the politics and focus on the human side of what is happening in Springfield and the impact these immigration policies can have on real Ohio families.
Sources:
🔗: Video captures suspected immigration agents detaining man at local car wash
🔗: Who was Pierre Damas Bel? Ohio family on his life before and during ICE supervision
🔗: DeWine calls death of 20-year-old Haitian in Springfield a ‘horrible tragedy’
🐀 Critter Corner
It’s time for Critter Corner — and this one takes the guys into the world of drones.
The question is whether Gov. Mike DeWine will let Ohio’s so-called “drone bill” take flight or ground it with a veto. House Bill 251 would establish rules for how and when police agencies can use drones. Supporters say Ohio needs clear rules for rapidly developing technology, while critics have raised concerns about privacy, surveillance and First Amendment implications.
So will the drone bill fly? That’s the question.
Source:
🔗: Will DeWine let the ‘drone bill’ fly into law or will he ground it?
🎓 What’s Happening to Ohio’s College Degree Programs?
The discussion stays in the Statehouse for another Ohio policy issue: the impact of Senate Bill 1 on the state’s public universities.
Nearly 90 degree programs have been identified for elimination since the law took effect, with universities required to cut undergraduate programs that average fewer than five graduates annually over a three-year period. The changes have affected schools across Ohio and have sparked questions about what the future of higher education should look like — and who gets to decide which programs remain.
It’s another example of a state policy decision that sounds straightforward on paper but can have very real consequences for students, faculty and universities.
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🌟 Good Things
🎨 Cleveland’s Waterloo Arts Fest
If all the politics and serious news have you ready to get out of the house, Cleveland has a good reason to do exactly that. The Waterloo Arts Fest returns Saturday, September 12, bringing art, music, food and plenty of local creativity to Cleveland’s Waterloo Arts & Entertainment District.
The 2026 festival features more than 90 local maker booths, 10-plus galleries, eight stages and more than 40 local bands, along with food vendors, art activities and plenty to explore. It’s a great reminder that Cleveland’s neighborhoods have no shortage of things worth celebrating.
Source:
🔗: Cleveland – Waterloo Arts Fest 2026
🛍️ Village Peddler Festival
And if handmade goods, food and a good Northeast Ohio fall outing are more your speed, the 42nd annual Village Peddler Festival is coming to Lake Metroparks Farmpark in Kirtland September 12–13.
More than 150 artists will be on hand with handmade accessories, décor, furniture and more. Add food trucks, friends, family and the Farmpark setting, and you’ve got another solid reason to get out and enjoy Northeast Ohio.
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📢 Subscribe & Share
That’s another episode of the Crooked River Cast. Let us know what you think of the show; email us at crookedrivercast@gmail.com
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Ohio has plenty going on. We’re going to keep talking about it.