Ohio News

Cedar Point Adventures, a Southern Ohio Road Trip & the Growing Fight Over Data Centers — Crooked River Cast Show #71 🎙

The guys kick off Show #71 the way they usually do: catching up on the week. Robert found himself back at Cedar Point for more summer fun, while Tom took a driving adventure through southern Ohio that included raw milk, a farm, wine, cider and one particularly funky stop along the way. Then the conversation turns to new developments in vaccines and cancer research, Amazon’s drone delivery ambitions, and the increasingly heated debate over data centers, electricity and whether Ohio communities should have more say over what gets built in their backyards. The episode wraps up with a little Oktoberfest news in this week’s Good Things.

🎢 Cedar Point, Southern Ohio and One Funky Road Trip

Bent Ladder is a hard cidery and winery located at Rittman Orchards in Doylestown, OH
Bent Ladder Winery

Before getting into the news, Robert and Tom spend some time catching up on their respective weeks. Robert, apparently not tired of roller coasters yet, made another trip to Cedar Point.

Tom, meanwhile, headed south for a driving adventure and made several interesting stops along the way. His route included Bent Ladder, Ohio Raw Milk, Zoe Farms, Rohr’s Wine Room, and The Funky Truckeria. If you’re listening along and wondering exactly where Tom ended up, these are the places he visited.

Sources:

🔗: Bent Ladder

🔗: Ohio Raw Milk

🔗: Zoe Farms

🔗: Rohr’s Wine Room

🔗: The Funky Truckeria

💉 A New Flu Vaccine and a Possible Shift in Cancer Treatment

A stock image of a medical professional filling a syringe. Moderna and Merck are studying an mRNA therapy that could help reduce melanoma recurrence.

Tom’s news this week starts with some interesting developments in medicine. One involves a new flu vaccine specifically geared toward older adults, while another looks at the potential impact Moderna and Merck’s cancer vaccine research could have if the technology continues to deliver promising results.

The conversation looks at what these developments could mean beyond the headlines. Medical advances always come with questions about availability, cost and how quickly new treatments move from research into everyday care, but the possibility of better protection against flu and new approaches to fighting cancer certainly gives people something worth watching.

Sources:

🔗: A new flu vaccine geared to older people is coming soon

🔗: Moderna’s cancer vaccine could change America in 7 surprising ways

🚁 Amazon Wants to Drop Your Packages From the Sky

An Amazon Prime Air delivery drone on display in 2023. JASON REDMOND/AFP/GETTY IMAGES

Robert’s news begins with Amazon’s continued push into drone delivery. The idea of having packages delivered through the air has been talked about for years, but now the technology is increasingly moving from futuristic concept to something people may actually encounter.

Of course, that also raises plenty of questions. How practical is it? Where will these drones fly? How much noise will they create? And how comfortable are people with having delivery drones regularly moving through their neighborhoods?

Source:

▶️ YouTube: WKYC Channel 3

⚡ Data Centers, Electricity and the Fight Brewing Across Ohio

"Community Reported" pins show data submitted by concerned residents across the US about AI data centers. Note that locations might be approximate, covering reported ZIP codes or nearby areas.

The biggest discussion of the episode focuses on data centers and the growing concern surrounding their impact on Ohio communities.

As more companies build the massive facilities needed to support cloud computing and artificial intelligence, communities are beginning to ask some basic questions: How much electricity do these facilities require? Who pays for the infrastructure? What happens when a project is proposed near homes, farms or established communities? And how much control should local residents have over the decision?

The guys look at reports from central and northeast Ohio, along with videos and commentary examining just how significant the power demands of AI and data centers could become. The conversation goes beyond simply being for or against data centers. These projects can bring investment and development, but the infrastructure required to support them is substantial, and Ohio is now finding itself in the middle of a much larger national conversation.

That debate has also reached the courts. In Ashville, the Ohio Supreme Court cleared the way for an anti-data center referendum to move forward, giving voters a chance to weigh in on a proposed project. Meanwhile, the issue of electricity and utility infrastructure continues to be a major part of the conversation, with AEP Ohio and other players facing increasing scrutiny.

The discussion also looks beyond Ohio at the broader effort to track where AI data centers are being proposed and how communities across the country are responding. Whether you’re excited about AI, concerned about your electric bill, worried about development near your home or simply trying to understand why these enormous facilities are suddenly popping up everywhere, this is an issue that isn’t going away anytime soon.

Sources:

▶️ YouTube: WBNS 10TV

▶️ YouTube: News 5 Cleveland

▶️ YouTube: Benn Jordan

▶️ YouTube: Piedmont Media

🔗: AEP Ohio Archives

🔗: Ohio Supreme Court greenlights Ashville anti-data center referendum

🔗: U.S. AI Data Center Awareness & Issue Map

🌟 Good Things

🍻 Cleveland Oktoberfest Is Back

The Cleveland Oktoberfest Committee Delivers a 6-Day Blockbuster Event, Sept 4-7 & Sept 11-12, 2026

Cleveland Oktoberfest is returning for two weekends this September, bringing plenty of food, drinks, music and Oktoberfest fun back to the area. The event will once again take place at the Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds, with some new additions planned for this year’s celebration.

If you’re looking for a reason to get out and enjoy the beginning of fall in Northeast Ohio, this might be one worth putting on the calendar.

Source:

🔗: Cleveland Oktoberfest to return for 2 weekends in September: Here’s what’s new this year

📢 Subscribe & Share

If you enjoyed this week’s conversation, subscribe to Crooked River Cast so you don’t miss the next episode. Share the show with someone who enjoys Ohio news, local stories, and conversations that go a little deeper than the headlines.

Visit www.crookedrivercast.com for more episodes and information, follow CRC Ohio News on X and join the conversation. Ohio always has something going on, and Robert and Tom will keep talking about it. Email is at crookedrivercast@gmail.com for any comments, concerns, or news suggestions, we would love to hear from you!

COVID’s Long Shadow: Amy Acton, Ohio’s Pandemic Response & the 2026 Governor’s Race — Crooked River Cast Show #69 ☯️ 🎙

Robert kicks off the show with something a little more personal than politics—he’s in the middle of dealing with a Zelle scam. If you’re unfamiliar with Zelle, it’s a digital payment service similar to Venmo or PayPal that scammers have increasingly targeted. The guys encourage listeners to learn how these scams work so they can avoid becoming the next victim.

Sources:

🔗: This Zelle Scam Is Emptying Bank Accounts in Minutes 😳

▶️ YouTube: THIS Zelle Scam Is DEVASTATING — Your Bank Won’t Save You!

From there, the conversation shifts to Ohio’s 2026 governor’s race and one of its most controversial candidates: former Ohio Health Director Dr. Amy Acton. Looking back on the COVID-19 pandemic, Robert and Tom argue that many of the assurances and policies promoted during that period have not held up under later scrutiny. They discuss their belief that Ohio’s pandemic response relied heavily on fear-based messaging and criticize Acton’s continued defense of her actions, despite her remaining a respected figure among many Democrats and public health supporters.

The hosts also touch on the broader national debate surrounding pandemic-era decision-making, including criticism of former federal officials such as Dr. Anthony Fauci, before asking whether Ohio voters are ready to revisit that chapter as they choose their next governor. While neither host is especially enthusiastic about the current field of candidates, they conclude that voters will have to decide which option they believe is the better of an imperfect set of choices.

🦠 Amy Acton, COVID-19 & Ohio’s Political Future

parody cartoon of Governor Mike Dewine and Dr. Amy Acton by Dave Stofka of Stofka
Visitors at all 88 Ohio county fairs this summer will see a life-size cutout of Acton, displayed by Ohio Republicans in hopes of tying her to the pandemic shutdowns. 2026

The discussion begins with the growing reality that COVID-19 is no longer just history—it’s campaign material. Robert and Tom examine how Amy Acton’s tenure as Ohio’s health director has become a defining issue in the race for governor. Well, let’s roll down memory lane and revisit some of the clips of Acton’s past to refresh everyone’s memory of her statements.

Acton is now revisiting those early months through interviews and keynote speeches, presenting herself as a steady leader who faced impossible choices. At the same time, the hosts compare those retrospective interviews with what she actually said during the daily COVID briefings in 2020, discussing whether her messaging and predictions held up over time.

Robert also references a comprehensive Google search compiling Acton’s public record throughout the pandemic, using it as a timeline to revisit executive orders, interviews, public statements, and media coverage. The discussion includes reactions from physicians such as Dr. Simone Gold, whose criticism of pandemic policies became nationally known, and how differing viewpoints continue to shape the public debate.

The guys also discuss more recent developments, including Amy Acton campaign cut-outs appearing at county fairs that tie her directly to Ohio’s COVID response. Whether viewed as accountability or political theater, Robert and Tom note that the pandemic remains impossible to separate from her campaign for governor.

Sources:

🔗: The long shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic creeps into the race for Ohio governor

🔗: OHIO exclusive: Dr. Amy Acton shares insights from early pandemic with medical students

▶️ YouTube: Dr. Amy Acton answers when and how will the coronavirus quarantine end?

▶️ YouTube: Full interview: Dr. Amy Acton on early days of pandemic and how to move forward two years later

🔗: Robert’s Google Search: amy acton covid record

▶️ YouTube: A cut-out tying Dr. Amy Acton to COVID-19 response appears at Ohio fairs

▶️ YouTube: Dr. Amy Acton reflects on events of COVID pandemic during keynote speech for Case Western Reserve University conference in Cleveland

▶️ YouTube: Dr. Amy Acton to Ohioans: Don the mask, don the cape

🔗: Dr. Simone Gold (@drsimonegold)

📢 Subscribe & Share

If you enjoy thoughtful conversations about Ohio politics, public policy, and the stories shaping our state, be sure to subscribe to Crooked River Cast so you never miss an episode.

Share this episode with friends and family, visit www.crookedrivercast.com for previous episodes and updates, follow  CRC Ohio News on X, and join the conversation as we continue covering the issues that matter most to Ohioans.

Iran Deal Tested, DeWine Vetoes Mail Ballot Bill & What’s Next for the I-X Center — Crooked River Cast Show #67 🎙

Summer has officially arrived, and before diving into this week’s headlines, Robert and Tom shared some Crooked River Cast breaking news. After today’s episode, the show will be taking a three-week summer hiatus to recharge, regroup, and get ready for what promises to be a busy election season. The news never stops, but everyone deserves a little time to catch their breath. The guys will be back soon, refreshed and ready to tackle whatever Ohio and the rest of the world throw their way.

Now, on to this week’s stories.

🌍 Iran Deal Tested After Drone Attack

The United States struck Iranian military targets after accusing Tehran of attacking a cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz, prompting Iran’s Revolutionary Guards to target US positions in retaliation, escalating tensions and casting fresh doubt over a fragile ceasefire in West Asia.

Just days after hopes of easing tensions in the Middle East, a drone attack on commercial shipping has raised new questions about the future of President Trump’s proposed agreement with Iran. The incident highlights just how fragile the situation remains and whether diplomacy can survive another round of escalating conflict. When will this really end?

Source:

🔗: Iran deal tested by drone attack as Trump offers up US farm goods

⚖️ Supreme Court Immigration Rulings

The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday allowed President Donald Trump to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitian and Syrian immigrants, meaning they could be subject to deportation.

The U.S. Supreme Court handed down immigration rulings that could have significant consequences for thousands of Haitian immigrants, including many living here in Ohio. The decisions allow the Department of Homeland Security to end temporary protections for certain immigrants while legal battles continue, creating uncertainty for families and communities across the state. The ground has stopped shaking and the huts have been rebuilt, time to back home folks….and Yes! Save the dogs! Save the cats!

Sources:

🔗: Supreme Court: DHS can end protections for Haitian immigrants, thousands of whom live in Ohio

🔗: Ohio Cities Brace for Impact of Supreme Court Allowing Trump to Take Legal Status Away from Haitians

🔗: Kristina Knickerbocker (@KnickerbockerOH) on X

🗳️ DeWine Vetoes Ohio Mail-In Ballot ID Bill

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine has vetoed legislation that would have required the vast majority of voters to provide their photo ID to cast a mail-in ballot. "H.B. 472 is all burden for so little benefit," DeWine said in his veto message Wednesday evening.

Governor Mike DeWine surprised many by vetoing legislation that would have required additional photo identification for Ohioans requesting mail-in ballots. Republicans in the Statehouse are already discussing whether they have enough votes to override the veto, setting up another debate over election security and voter access ahead of future elections.

Robert and Tom questioned the governor’s decision, arguing that as his time in office winds down, this veto is another example of what they see as leadership that has fallen short for Ohio. They also wondered whether the move is part of a broader political strategy heading into the next election cycle.

What do you think? Is this the right decision, or is there more to it? We’d love to hear your thoughts. Email us at crookedrivercast@gmail.com.

Sources:

🔗: Will Ohio Republicans override Gov. DeWine’s voter photo ID veto?

🔗: Gov. DeWine blocks stricter ID mandate for Ohio mail-in voting

🚓 Ohio Drivers May Soon Have to Identify Themselves During Traffic Stops

n Ohio bill that would explicitly criminalize refusing to provide basic identifying information during a traffic stop, clarifying what some law enforcement officials have called a gray area in state law, is awaiting Gov. Mike DeWine’s signature. House Bill 492, sponsored by Reps. Sharon Ray (R-Wadsworth) and Cindy Abrams (R-Harrison), passed the Senate on June 10 after passing the House in November.

An Ohio bill awaiting Governor DeWine’s signature would require drivers to identify themselves during traffic stops. Supporters argue it provides clarity and improves officer safety, while critics question whether the proposal creates unnecessary legal complications. It’s another example of lawmakers trying to redefine the rules of interactions between drivers and law enforcement.

Source:

🔗: Ohio bill requiring drivers to identify selves at traffic stops awaits governor’s signature

🎓 One Year Later: Ohio’s Anti-“Woke” Higher Education Law

Brielle Shorter, a 20-year-old Ohio State University student, protests against Senate Bill 1 on Jan. 22, 2025. (Photo by Megan Henry, Ohio Capital Journal).

It’s been about a year since Ohio’s higher education reform law took effect, and lawmakers are already looking ahead. Supporters believe the legislation is making Ohio colleges more attractive to students, while opponents continue debating its impact on academic freedom and campus culture.

Source:

🔗: Author of Ohio anti-’woke’ higher ed law celebrates college enrollments, lays out what’s next

🚓 North Canton Launches Public Speeding Database

The North Canton Police Department is making its speed data public. Residents can now see data collected by officers through a new website. Data on accidents and traffic stops is now available online. Residents can also see which streets police are monitoring for speeding.

The North Canton Police Department has rolled out a new online speed data website that allows residents to see where speeding problems are occurring throughout the city. The goal is greater transparency and helping residents understand where enforcement efforts are focused. You can check out the website here on this link.

Source:

🔗: North Canton Police Department launches new speed data website

👮 Sheriffs Push for an Elected Cuyahoga County Sheriff

Cuyahoga County Sheriff Harold Pretel speaks to Cuyahoga County Council with sheriffs from Northeast Ohio behind him on June 23, 2026.

Sheriffs from across Ohio are encouraging Cuyahoga County leaders to return to electing their sheriff rather than appointing one. Supporters argue elected sheriffs provide greater accountability directly to voters, while others believe the current appointment system better serves the county’s needs. It also ties back to last week’s episode, where Robert and Tom discussed two different sheriff stories—highlighting why experienced, accountable leadership in Ohio’s sheriff’s offices matters to communities across the state.

Source:

🔗: Northeast Ohio sheriffs lobby Cuyahoga County Council for an elected sheriff

🏢 What Is the Future of the I-X Center?

Fed-up show producers are sharing details about behind-the-scenes efforts to keep events at Cleveland's I-X Center for the next few years — as complex real estate talks make compromise seem unlikely.

The future of one of Northeast Ohio’s most recognizable venues remains uncertain. Event organizers continue expressing frustration after a year of stalled negotiations and unanswered questions about the facility’s future. At the same time, Cleveland officials say a manufacturing project being considered for the property could bring hundreds of new jobs and millions in payroll, leaving many wondering what comes next for the iconic I-X Center.

Sources:

🔗: ‘End of our rope.’ I-X Center event producers speak up after year in limbo, stalled talks

🔗: Cleveland says a manufacturer eyeing the I-X Center could bring 700 jobs, $72M in payroll

🌟 Good Things

💰 Ohio’s Unclaimed Funds Continue to Grow

Photo by: News 5 News 5 interviewed a woman, who moved away from Ohio to avoid a domestic situation, and is waiting for nearly $500,000 in unclaimed funds to help her rebuild her life.

Ohio still has billions of dollars in unclaimed funds waiting to be returned to residents, including one woman owed nearly half a million dollars. While the funds are available, processing delays are frustrating people who are waiting to receive what is theirs. It’s another reminder to periodically check Ohio’s unclaimed funds database—you never know what might be waiting. What’s the holdup?

Source:

🔗: Woman owed nearly $500,000 in unclaimed funds waits 6+ months as backlog continues

🌊 Gordon Park Gets a Fresh Start

A major transformation is now underway at Gordon Park on Cleveland’s east side. Cleveland Metroparks has officially started a $10 million renovation project aimed at turning the southern section of the park into a new neighborhood gathering space along the lakefront. Cleveland Metroparks said this redesign is all about opening the lakefront back up to the community.

A major transformation is underway at Cleveland’s Gordon Park, where the Cleveland Metroparks has kicked off a $10 million renovation designed to turn the southern portion of the park into a vibrant neighborhood gathering place along the Lake Erie shoreline. The project will feature expanded green space shaded by mature trees, scenic lake views, and a new walking loop that park visitors have long enjoyed.

The renovation is being funded through an $8 million grant from the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Foundation, along with $2 million from Cleveland Metroparks. Construction is expected to continue through next spring, with the newly renovated park scheduled to reopen in summer 2027, giving Clevelanders an even better place to enjoy the lakefront for years to come.

Source:

🔗: Gordon Park renovation aims to bring community back to the lakefront

📢 Subscribe & Share

If you enjoy staying informed about what’s happening across Ohio without all the noise, be sure to subscribe to Crooked River Cast so you never miss an episode. Share this episode with your friends and family, follow CRC Ohio News on X , and join the conversation. We’ll be taking a short summer break, but we’ll be back soon with more Ohio news, more discussion, and plenty more to talk about.

🎙️ Before we sign off for our summer break, we want to wish everyone a safe and Happy Fourth of July! 🇺🇸 As our nation celebrates its 250th anniversary of freedom, we hope you take time to enjoy family, friends, and everything that makes this country special. 🎆 Have an amazing summer, and we’ll be back in a few weeks with more Ohio news and conversation.