News, Topics, Banter of the Week

Crooked River Cast Show 25

Taxes, Thermostats & Trailblazing 🚦🍂

Tom and Robert are back in the studio stirring the pot on Ohio politics, policies, and those strange-but-true local headlines you won’t hear broken down anywhere else. From ICE raids to thermostat controls, college cuts, and a governor with a kratom problem, this week’s show is packed. But don’t worry—we end on a lighter note with fall colors, festivals, and some good old Cleveland theater.

🚔 ICE Detains “Cleveland” Father

ICE takes a Cleveland-area father who entered the U.S. legally under a now-paused program, and the story is rattling local families. The guys dig into the details and what this means for the broader immigration conversation.
🔗 Full story – News5 Cleveland

🏠 GOP’s “Taxpayer Freedom Trilogy”

State Republicans pitch the “Taxpayer Freedom Trilogy” as a way to protect homeowners from rising property taxes. But does it really solve the problem—or just sound good on paper? Robert and Tom break it down with a clip and some side-eye.
🔗 Full release – Ohio House

🏛️💰 Government Overreach – “Property Taxes”

An all-out effort is underway to reform property taxes in Ohio
🔗 Full Update -‘It’s become a government overreach.’ Ohio lawmakers fight to overhaul property taxes

🌡️ Big Brother, Meet Your Thermostat

An Ohio bill could let utilities turn down your thermostat or water heater “in the name of efficiency.” The guys dive into whether this is government overreach or just smart energy management.
🔗 Ohio bill would let utilities reduce customer thermostat, water heater usage

🎓 Degrees Gone Missing

Eleven degree programs axed at Ohio University thanks to HB1—with 25 more potentially on the chopping block. Are lawmakers “trimming the fat” or gutting opportunity?
🔗 Full story – Fox8

🌿 Kratom Crackdown?

What is kratom, and why is the governor suddenly focused on banning it? The guys play a clip and break down whether it’s a public safety risk or just another target for regulation.
🔗 Full story – News5 Cleveland

🦟 West Nile Alert!

West Nile virus detected in mosquito pools across Portage County. Should you panic or just grab the bug spray? Robert and Tom have thoughts.
🔗 Full story – WTAM

🚗 New Rules for New Drivers

Getting your license in Ohio is about to get tougher, thanks to new education and training requirements. The guys weigh in on whether stricter rules will mean safer roads.
🔗 Full story – Fox8

🌟 Good Things: Ohio Edition

We love closing with some lighter stories—because it’s not all doom and gloom out there:

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Crooked River Cast Show 24

🏫📊⚖️ Safe Schools, Shaky Stats & Scandals in Ohio: Ohio’s Reality Check

Tom and Robert are back at it with music, banter, and a heavy dose of Ohio politics. This week, the guys cut through the spin on crime stats, school safety promises, courthouse scandals, and voting changes. And don’t worry—there’s some good news too, from concerts to corn mazes.

🗳️ Crime Stats vs. Reality

Clips roll in as the guys tackle crime in Cleveland and Akron. On one hand, officials say crime is “down.” On the other—brutal assaults, press conferences, and even Trump calling for National Guard action suggest otherwise. Are the numbers hiding the truth, or are politicians cherry-picking stats?

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🏫 DeWine’s “Safe Schools”

Governor Mike DeWine promises Ohio is working to make schools safer after yet another tragic school shooting out of state. But how much is rhetoric and how much is real action? The crew isn’t so sure.

Source:

⚖️ Celebrezze in Hot Water

Another Celebrezze scandal? Yes. Judge Leslie Ann Celebrezze is facing a recommendation for a two-year suspension after misconduct findings. Feels like déjà vu in Cleveland’s courts.

Source:

🚨 Safety Patrol Déjà Vu

The so-called downtown “safety patrol” is back in headlines—again tied to dangerous police chases and questions about oversight. The guys break down what really happened and why county council is sounding alarms.

Sources:

🗳️ Voting Registration Battles

Registering at the BMV just got trickier—advocates are suing over new proof of citizenship requirements. Meanwhile, some counties want to ditch voting machines for paper ballots. Tom and Robert weigh in on what it means for democracy in Ohio.

Sources:

🌽 Good Things

Not everything is politics and crime—Cleveland still knows how to have fun.

🎸 Concerts at House of Blues – From Jerry Cantrell’s I Want Blood Tour to a stacked September lineup, live music is buzzing downtown.

🌽 Lake Metroparks Paul Revere Corn Maze – Get lost (on purpose) in this Revolutionary War–themed fall maze. Perfect family outing.

🍺 20th Annual Cleveland Oktoberfest – Closing out the season on September 5th & 6th with beer, brats, and Bavarian bands. Don’t miss the last two days!

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Crooked River Cast Show 23

🎙️ Episode: 23 Ohio Nepotism & Nonsense: From Ballots to Milk” âš–ď¸đŸ—łď¸đŸĽ›

Tom and Robert kicked things off with some of their favorite music before diving into the latest round of Ohio political shenanigans, DeWine’s nepotism, and a mix of serious headlines and lighthearted “good things.” Here’s the full recap ⬇️

Episode Recap

🗳️ Trump vs. Mail-In Voting

Trump is doubling down on his crusade to eliminate mail-in ballots and voting machines, citing fraud concerns. What does Ohio have to say about that? We break it down and take a look at where Ohio candidates stand.

🪖 DeWine Sends Ohio Troops to DC

Governor DeWine agreed to send 150 Ohio National Guard members to Washington, D.C. Protesters back home aren’t thrilled, and many are questioning his motives.

⚖️ Nepotism & Judicial Power Plays

DeWine is also under fire for quietly influencing judge appointments. With his daughter already in statewide office, critics say Ohio politics is starting to look like a family business.

🛫 FAA Says Yes, Hopkins Says No – Browns Caught in the Middle

The Cleveland Browns can’t seem to catch a break—plans for a potential stadium dome were shot down by Hopkins Airport officials, citing flight path concerns. The FAA, however, had no problem. And what about the buildings that were taller in the past?…

🚓 Downtown Safety Patrol Gone Wild

A high-speed chase by Cleveland’s downtown safety patrol is raising eyebrows. Are they keeping people safe—or creating more danger?

🥛🍦 🎢 Raw Milk, Rollercoasters & Government Overreach

Is it freedom of choice—or a recipe for disaster? Lawmakers are pushing to legalize raw milk sales while also forcing amusement parks to post real-time ride closure updates. Legitimate safety measures or government overreach?

🎢 Amusement Parks and Lawmakers – what?

A local state representative has introduced a bill that takes the guesswork out of wondering which rides are open at amusement parks across Ohio.

🏀 NSFW at the WNBA Game

In one of the strangest stories of the week, a man was arrested for tossing an inappropriate object onto the court during a WNBA game—his third such stunt. Fans and players are asking: what’s going on?

🌟 Good Things!

🎬 The Breakfast Club Turns 40

The John Hughes classic is back on the big screen for its 40th anniversary. Break out your flannel and eyeliner—it’s detention nostalgia time.

🦒 Cleveland Zoo’s Baby Giraffe

The Cleveland Zoo welcomed a new baby giraffe, and they need help naming it! Who wouldn’t want bragging rights for naming a giraffe?

🌅 Countdown to Summer’s End

Fake fall is already being hyped, but Ohioans know the real countdown is on. Enjoy summer while it lasts!

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