News, Topics, Banter of the Week

Crooked River Cast Show 27

Politics, Protests, Property Taxes & Some Good Things 🍂🏈🦋

This week Tom and Robert dive into a whirlwind of headlines that hit Ohio and beyond—from the Charlie Kirk aftermath and free speech questions to property tax deadlines, the Browns’ stadium news, and even the Monarch butterflies making their way through the Buckeye State. It’s another packed episode where the heavy meets the light, and we break it all down for you.

🔥 Free Speech, Charlie Kirk, and the Fire Chief

The assassination of Charlie Kirk continues to spark heated debate—about political violence, about the First Amendment, and about what happens when public officials take a side. Cleveland Fire Chief Anthony Luke has been placed on leave following comments tied to the tragedy. Can you really get fired for expressing an opinion? What does “free speech” mean when you’re at work?

▶️ In this fiery Piers Morgan segment, Steven Crowder and former Congressman Joe Walsh clash over political rhetoric and its consequences. Walsh warns that those fueling division “should be deathly afraid,” while Crowder pushes back, sparking a heated debate on free speech, accountability, and America’s deepening polarization. (Linked image below)

▶️ In this intense segment, political commentator Steve Deace lays out “The 3 Things America MUST DO after Charlie Kirk’s Assassination.” He argues that this moment demands real action—not just outrage—calling for policy change, public accountability, and societal reflection in the wake of rising political violence.(Linked image below)

📜 Ohio Bills in the Wake of Tragedy

In direct response to Kirk’s assassination, Ohio lawmakers are fast-tracking new bills—some aimed at safety, others at harsher sentencing for political violence. It’s a moment that blends raw emotion with rushed policymaking.

📎 Ohio GOP lawmakers seek harsher penalties for political violence
📎 Ohio weighs allowing politicians, judges to carry concealed handguns at work

🔥🎡 Fire, Fairs, and Free Speech?

Ohio’s debate over free speech and accountability isn’t just playing out in city hall—it’s showing up at the county fairgrounds too. Cleveland Fire Chief Anthony Luke is on leave after making comments about Charlie Kirk’s assassination, raising the question: how far does the First Amendment protect your speech when you’re a public servant?

Meanwhile at the Ashland County Fair, local Democratic Party officers were spotted with political buttons that stirred up plenty of chatter. Between public officials, party politics, and everyday Ohioans, the line between free expression and professional consequences is blurrier than ever.

📎 Cleveland fire chief Anthony Luke on leave over Charlie Kirk comments
📎 Ashland County Fair Democratic Party buttons / officers

😂 Comedy Break – The Babylon Bee Hits Again

Sometimes you need a breather from all the heaviness. This week’s laugh: a wife making plans while her husband is locked in an epic Facebook comments battle for America’s soul.

📎 Babylon Bee article

🏠 Property Taxes – Deadlines Approaching

Ohio’s property tax working group is pushing toward a fall deadline, and lawmakers are back in session. The pressure is on to deliver reforms before the year ends.

📎 Property Tax Working Group deadline nears

🚨 Max Miller Calls in the Guard

Congressman Max Miller is turning heads by saying it’s time to bring in the National Guard to Cleveland. He argues it’s the only way to restore order—but is that really the answer?

📎 Should National Guard troops be deployed in Cleveland?

🏈 Stadium Shake-Up – Browns Score Airport Approval

Big news for Browns fans: ODOT has approved the construction permit for the new Cleveland Browns Stadium in Brook Park. Love it or hate it, this changes the game for sports and travel in Northeast Ohio.

📎 ODOT approves Cleveland Browns Stadium permit

🌳 GOOD THINGS – Because We Need Them

🏞 Ohio State Parks Top the Nation

It’s official—Ohio has the best state parks in the country. Affordable, beautiful, and accessible, they’re a reminder that not all news is bad news.

🦋 Monarch Butterfly Migration

Northeast Ohio is one of the best places to catch the Monarch migration. Pack a camera and enjoy this fleeting natural wonder.

🍁 Fall Colors Forecast – Expect the Unexpected

This year’s dry weather means Ohio’s fall colors may look a little different than usual. Could be muted, could be stunning—we’ll soon see.

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Crooked River Cast Show 26

🎙️ Counting Crimes, Campus Crashes & Charlie Kirk

This week Tom and Robert open with a tough one. The assassination of Charlie Kirk hit especially hard. Love him or not, he was a voice shaping conversations across the country—and his loss is tragic. We at Crooked River Cast will miss him, and we pray his family, for peace and an end to political violence in our communities.

But as always, your hosts break down the week’s stories, shining light on the numbers, the spin, and even a few lighter moments to help us all breathe a little easier.

🕊️ Charlie Kirk Assassination

The shocking assassination of Charlie Kirk has shaken the nation. Lawmakers in Ohio and beyond are calling for an end to political violence. The suspected gunman, Tyler Robinson, left chilling online activity in the hours leading up to the shooting. The tragedy has sparked outrage across political lines—and some media fallout too, as MSNBC’s Matthew Dowd was fired after sharing a false “celebration” clip.

A couple of reaction posts made by Charlie haters in our state:

📉 Cleveland State Enrollment Slide

Cleveland State University’s enrollment is down sharply—41% fewer international students. That’s a blow not only to the university’s finances, but also to the cultural mix of the city. Are visa issues, politics, or local conditions to blame? Likely a messy mix of all three.

🚔 Cleveland Police “Math Problems”

Turns out Cleveland PD has trouble with numbers—or maybe they’re massaging them. Reports show the department underreported homicides in 2024. Whether it’s a glitch in the system or deliberate spin, the end result is the same: the public gets a false picture of safety.

🔫 What Counts as a “Mass Shooting”?

The way shootings get labeled matters. Depending on the definition you use, the numbers change dramatically. This week, we dig into how this latest tragedy was classified—and what that says about crime stats in America.

🏫 Cloverleaf Schools & Tax Cuts

Cloverleaf School System is floating the idea of giving money back to taxpayers. Sounds good, right? But state-level politics could crash that plan. Once again, local good intentions run smack into Ohio’s legislative machinery.

🌕 Nukes for the Moon (But Not Earth)

NASA Glenn is getting billions to develop nuclear power—for the moon. Yes, we’ll have nukes in space before we have them back home on earth. Strange priorities? Maybe. But it’s all part of the race to stay ahead in space exploration.

🌟 Good Things

🐼 New Red Panda at the Zoo

Cleveland Metroparks Zoo welcomed a new red panda baby! Adorable, fuzzy, and the perfect pick-me-up story.

🎬 Hollywood in Ohio

Chris Pine’s new movie Carousel is filming right here in Northeast Ohio. From car chases to star sightings, keep your eyes open—you might just stumble onto a film set.

🚁 Low-Flying Tree Trimmers

If you spotted helicopters buzzing low over Northeast Ohio, no, it wasn’t a scene from a movie. It’s FirstEnergy trimming trees along power lines with some heavy-duty rotor-blade work.

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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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