Crooked River Cast Show 28

🍂 Politics, Pumpkins & Porta-Potties

Tom and Robert are back behind the mics for another week of Crooked River Cast, bringing their mix of straight talk, humor, and side-eye at Ohio’s headlines. This week they dig into the new faces running for governor, the fallout from some pretty disgusting reactions to Charlie Kirk’s assassination, and even a sheriff’s deputy who had a very bad day involving a porta-potty. As always, they keep it sharp, funny, and right on point with the news you should know.

🗳️ Meet the Ohio Governor Hopefuls

The governor’s race is heating up—and it’s not just Amy Acton or Vivek Ramaswamy. There’s a whole cast of characters stepping into the spotlight, and Tom and Rob give their take on the contenders you probably haven’t heard of yet.
👉 Meet the lesser-known candidates for Ohio governor | Fox 8 Cleveland WJW

💸 Medicaid Fraud Sweep

Healthcare dollars aren’t supposed to line private pockets, but a new sweep found $1.6 million in Medicaid fraud right here in Greater Cleveland. The guys break it down with their signature commentary.
👉 Greater Cleveland providers indicted in $1.6 million Medicaid fraud sweep – cleveland.com

🚒 Fire Chief Fallout, Council Drama & ☕ Starbucks

Remember the Cleveland Fire Chief who thought it was funny to celebrate Charlie Kirk’s assassination? Well, that post didn’t age well. He’s now out of a job. But the controversy didn’t stop there—when the Cuyahoga Council tried to hold a moment of silence, three members actually walked out. Tom and Rob talk about what that says about politics in Cleveland and the state of public discourse. One Ohio woman was shocked to find a hateful message scrawled on her Starbucks cup at a Kroger’s store. Tom and Rob cover the story and point out how something as simple as ordering coffee shouldn’t turn into this kind of ugliness.

👉 Cleveland fire chief on leave over Charlie Kirk post
👉 3 Cuyahoga County Councilmembers walk out over Charlie Kirk tribute | wkyc.com
👉 Fairview Park outrage over Charlie Kirk comments

👉 ‘I couldn’t believe it’: Ohio woman shocked by hate message left on her Starbucks order

🛂 Lake & Geauga Counties Cozy with ICE

Lake County is openly partnering with ICE, and Geauga County is reaffirming its secret ICE jail contract. The guys dive into what this means for Ohio communities.
👉 Lake County Sheriff’s Office to partner with ICE on immigration enforcement
👉 Geauga County commissioners ‘reaffirm’ secret ICE jail contract – cleveland.com

🚔 Akron Police Review Use of Force

Akron is bringing in PERF to review its police use-of-force policies. Tom and Rob dig into what this actually means—and whether it’s just optics.
👉 Akron to review police use-of-force policies with help from PERF | wkyc.com

🎨 Transformative Art & a $900M Jail

Only in Cleveland: turning a vacant house into “food for art” while simultaneously rolling out renderings of a nearly billion-dollar county jail. The contrast wasn’t lost on Tom and Robert.
👉 Transformative Arts Fund project turns vacant Cleveland house into art | Ideastream Public Media

🔎 Where does the Cleveland’s $3 million Transformative Arts Fund get its fund – Google Search
👉 Cuyahoga County releases first images of new jail campus, a $900M project

🚽 Sheriff’s Deputy & the Porta-Potty Incident

Yes, you read that right. A Cuyahoga Sheriff’s deputy accidentally fired a gun after a porta-potty mishap. Tom and Rob couldn’t let this one slide without some laughs.
👉 Special deputy fires gun after porta-potty incident in Cuyahoga County | wkyc.com

🌟 Good Things

🎃 Pumpkin & 🍎 Apple Picking Season

Cooler weather, family outings, and cider donuts—it’s that time again! The guys highlight some of the best spots in Northeast Ohio.
👉 Best pumpkin patches in Northeast Ohio
👉 Apple Picking in Ohio | Ohio, The Heart of It All
👉 Apple Picking Schedule | Lynd Fruit Farm

🎣 Stocking Ohio Lakes

Good news for anglers—Ohio’s lakes are being stocked with muskies, making for some exciting fishing ahead.
👉 Muskies stocked in 9 Ohio lakes make for ‘excellent fishing’: ODNR

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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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