Sound of Ideas

Election Night Update

Tuesday is Election Day, with voters heading to the polls to decide on big races, like Ohio governor and a U.S. Senate seat. This midterm election may shift the balance of power in Washington D.C., and many see it as a referendum on President Donald Trump's policies.

We begin the "Sound of Ideas," hosted by Drew Maziasz, in for Stephanie Haney, on Tuesday with a check in regarding Ideastream's Listen, Engage, Vote election night coverage.

Glenn Forbes joins the "Sound of Ideas" to preview the work that hosts and producers will be doing in order to bring updates and results to our audience. We'll also speak with a reporter in the field who's live at a polling location in Portage County.

Guests:

- Glenn Forbes, Deputy News Editor, Ideastream Public Media

- Amanda Pirani, Regional Reporter, Ideastream Public Media

World Wildlife Fund Report

Then, we shift our sights to the environment.

Over the past 50 years, the size of populations of wild species has fallen by over 70% on average, according to the World Wildlife Fund's 2026 Living Planet Report that came out last month. These numbers are based on the Living Planet Index, a measure of the world's biological diversity.

Despite the decline, this year's Living Planet Report emphasizes that there is still hope for the planet we call home especially with the resurgence of species like tigers, bluefin tuna, and green turtles thanks to conservation efforts.

We'll speak with Jeff Opperman, a local scientist who works with the WWF.

Guests:

- Jeff Opperman, Global Freshwater Lead Scientist, World Wildlife Fund

Local Conservation Efforts

We close the program learning more about conservation efforts in Northeast Ohio.

Organizations like zoos and nature preserves engage in conservation efforts as a key part of their mission. We'll hear how they keep these efforts alive in the face of declining wildlife numbers.

Guests;

- Jeff Opperman, Global Freshwater Lead Therapist, World Wildlife Fund

- Chris Kuhar, Executive Director, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo

- Mike Watson, Conservation Biologist, Holden Arboretum

- Michael Melampy, Executive Committee Member, Northeast Ohio Sierra Club

High school students create election podcasts

For the past few weeks, as part of our Listen, Engage, Vote election initiative, Ideastream has reported on how consequential this midterm election is, especially for Ohioans — from deciding who will lead the state as the next governor, to statewide and federal races that could determine the balance of power in Congress, to the makeup of our state Supreme Court, to how our local schools and social services are funded.

But what do young people think of the midterms? Is it on their radar? As of the voter registration deadline a few weeks ago, only 35% of 18-year-olds were registered to vote in Ohio, which is 10% below the national average. What will it take to get more young people to the polls? And for those who can't vote yet, how engaged are they in what's happening this election cycle?

Our team got a chance to sit down with a group of passionate high school students from Hawken Schools in Gates Mills, in Cuyahoga County, who were tasked with covering the election in the elective course called "Campaign Headquarters." Groups of students created podcasts that focused on competitive races in Ohio and elsewhere.

Guests:

- Birk Farinacci, Senior, Hawken School

- Maya Wadhawan, Senior, Hawken School

- Grayson Rezaee, Senior, Hawken School

Halloween is Saturday, and with the cost of just about everything going up, some folks are getting creative with their costumes — maybe DIY-ing a look at home, or repurposing clothes already in their closets.

Other families are rethinking how much candy they can afford to hand out, if at all.

Candy prices are up more than 15% for consumers this year, according to an analysis from progressive think tanks the Groundwork Collaborative and the Century Foundation.

But Halloween is still a big moment for the candy business, including right here in Northeast Ohio.

Thursday on “The Menu,” our biweekly segment in collaboration with Cleveland Magazine and hosted by Stephanie Haney, we’re checking in with All City Candy, a small business serving up sweet treats on Halloween and all year round.

Guest:
- Yuta Hsu, e-Commerce & Customer Service representative, All City Candy

Timmy's Hope fosters pets while owners complete addiction treatment Addiction is a disease that impacts all facets of life. When we think about what that means, the things that immediately come to mind might be physical health, personal relationships, work life and the ability to make money, which can directly impact someone's ability to secure stable housing and take care of themselves and others. What you might not think about right away, is what happens to someone's pets when they're dealing with addiction. In Northeast Ohio, there are some emergency services available that can help people enrolled in addiction treatment care for their animals, but those programs often have a time limit on providing that care. When Sara Gorbett-Myers and Melissa Khoury each independently noticed this gap in available care, these two strangers were brought together by an addiction treatment provider they had both worked with, and Timmy's Hope was born. Since officially forming this non-profit organization in April, they've cared for nearly thirty animals while their humans have been receiving inpatient care for addiction issues. With five reunifications to date their work is making a difference, as they like to say, by saving both ends of the leash. We highlight this program on Monday's "Sound of Ideas" hosted by Stephanie Haney. Learn more about Timmy's Hope here: https://www.facebook.com/p/Timmys-Hope-CLE-61590732031766/ Guests: - Melissa Khoury, Co-founder, Timmy's Hope - Sara Gorbett-Myers, Co-founder, Timmy's Hope - Jen Halstead, Graduate, Timmy's Hope

The U.S. Department of Justice will send federal election monitors to Cuyahoga, Medina and Franklin counties on Election Day as part of a nationwide effort covering all 50 states.

Nonpartisan groups, including the NAACP, the ACLU of Ohio and Common Cause Ohio, are also preparing volunteers, lawyers and election experts to monitor polling places. The groups are encouraging voters to make a plan, consider voting early and report problems to the Election Protection Hotline.

Akron is removing its Flock license plate-reading cameras from nationwide searches, preventing out-of-state law enforcement agencies from accessing the city's camera network through broad searches. Akron police and other Ohio law enforcement agencies will still have access to the database.

The Cleveland Metropolitan School District has ended its contract with Flock Safety, shutting down all 201 of the company's license plate-reading cameras on school property. A district audit found that the camera system was searched more than 141,000 times in June alone, with nearly half of those searches coming from out-of-state organizations.

Morton Salt has shut down operations at its Fairport Harbor mine after discovering a significant inflow of water underground. The company has notified the state that it is laying off 77 employees while it works to determine the cause of the flooding. The mine supplies road salt to six Northeast Ohio counties.

And daylight saving time endsSunday.

We'll discuss these stories and more on the Friday Reporters Roundtable hosted by Mike McIntyre.

Guests:
- Ida Lieszkovszky, Health Reporter, Ideastream Public Media
- Sean McDonnell, Local Government Reporter, Ideastream Public Media
- Sarah Donaldson, Reporter, Ideastream Statehouse News Bureau

Domestic violence fatalities and gun laws

This conversation discusses domestic violence fatalities. If you or someone you know is in need of help, please contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or text "BEGIN" to 88788.

State and federal laws bar people with certain felony convictions and misdemeanors from carrying a gun, yet a new investigation from the Columbus Dispatch and Cincinnati Enquirer found that of the domestic violence killings that involved guns, 1 in 3 abusers shot their partner or family member with a gun they legally weren't allowed to have.

While officers do often seize guns when a protection order is in place, Ohio law doesn't prevent abusers from buying another one online or at a gun show -- and there may be guns that aren't voluntarily surrendered.

36-year-old Jessica Hardy was one of the 89 domestic violence victims who died between June of 2025 and 2026.

She was fatally shot in March by her ex-boyfriend, Jessie Wilson, who had a gun despite Hardy having a protection order in place against him that prohibited him from carrying deadly weapons, and there being a warrant out for his arrest.

On Monday's "Sound of Ideas," hosted by Stephanie Haney, we'll talk about the gaps in the justice system highlighted by the Cincinnati Enquirer and the Columbus Dispatch, and how to better help people in dangerous domestic situations.

Guests:

- Quinlan Bentley, Breaking News Reporter, Cincinnati Enquirer

- Erin Glynn, Regional Politics Reporter, Cincinnati Enquirer

- Alexandria Ruden, Supervising Attorney, Legal Aid Society of Cleveland

- Sherry Brown, mother of Mariah Sanders

Timmy's Hope fosters pets while owners seek treatment

Addiction is a disease that impacts all facets of life. When we think about what that means, the things that immediately come to mind might be physical health, personal relationships, work life and the ability to make money, which can directly impact someone's ability to secure stable housing and take care of themselves and others. What you might not think about right away, is what happens to someone's pets when they're dealing with addiction.

In Northeast Ohio, there are some emergency services available that can help people enrolled in addiction treatment care for their animals, but those programs often have a time limit on providing that care. When Sara Gorbett-Myers and Melissa Khoury each independently noticed this gap in available care, these two strangers were brought together by an addiction treatment provider they had both worked with, and Timmy's Hope was born. Since officially forming this non-profit organization in April, they've cared for nearly thirty animals while their humans have been receiving inpatient care for addiction issues.

With five reunifications to date their work is making a difference, as they like to say, by saving both ends of the leash.

We'll highlight this program on Monday's "Sound of Ideas" hosted by Stephanie Haney.

Guests:

- Melissa Khoury, Co-founder, Timmy's Hope

- Sara Gorbett-Myers, Co-founder, Timmy's Hope

- Jen Halstead, Graduate, Timmy's Hope

Election Preview

November's midterm election will have wide-ranging impacts on communities across Ohio.

Not only are state-wide seats like governor to be decided on, but municipalities across the state will be voting on issues that deal with school funding, property taxes and even data centers.

Several Ideastream reporters join the "Sound of Ideas" with Stephanie Haney on Thursday to discuss some of the issues they're following ahead of the midterms. That includes everything from using income taxes to fund school systems, to paying for county boards of developmental disabilities.

Guests:

- Sean McDonnell, Cleveland Government Reporter, Ideastream Public Media

- Conor Morris, Education Reporter, Ideastream Public Media

- Amanda Pirani, Regional Reporter, Ideastream Public Media

High school students create election podcasts

For the past few weeks, as part of our Listen, Engage, Vote election initiative, Ideastream has reported on how consequential this midterm election is, especially for Ohioans — from deciding who will lead the state as the next governor, to statewide and federal races that could determine the balance of power in Congress, to the makeup of our state Supreme Court, to how our local schools and social services are funded.

But what do young people think of the midterms? Is it on their radar? As of the voter registration deadline a few weeks ago, only 35% of 18-year-olds were registered to vote in Ohio, which is 10% below the national average. What will it take to get more young people to the polls? And for those who can't vote yet, how engaged are they in what's happening this election cycle?

Our team got a chance to sit down with a group of passionate high school students from Hawken Schools in Gates Mills, in Cuyahoga County, who were tasked with covering the election in the elective course called "Campaign Headquarters." Groups of students created podcasts that focused on competitive races in Ohio and elsewhere.

Guests:

- Birk Farinacci, Senior, Hawken School

- Maya Wadhawan, Senior, Hawken School

- Grayson Rezaee, Senior, Hawken School

"The Menu: All City Candy"

Halloween is Saturday, and with the cost of just about everything going up, some folks are getting creative with their costumes — maybe DIY-ing a look at home, or repurposing clothes already in their closets.

Other families are rethinking how much candy they can afford to hand out, if at all.

Candy prices are up more than 15% for consumers this year, according to an analysis from progressive think tanks the Groundwork Collaborative and the Century Foundation.

But Halloween is still a big moment for the candy business, including right here in Northeast Ohio.

Thursday on “The Menu,” our biweekly segment in collaboration with Cleveland Magazine, we’re checking in with All City Candy, a small business serving up sweet treats on Halloween and all year round.

Guests:

- Yuta Hsu, e-Commerce & Customer Service representative, All City Candy

"Monsters of Ohio" book explores concept of cryptids in the Buckeye State

Halloween is in a few days, and some of the holiday's longest-running spooky costumes celebrate the lore of Bigfoot and the Loch Ness Monster. These creatures are known as cryptids, or animals who some assume to exist though that has not been scientifically proven. In some cases, what were once considered cryptids have turned out to be animals we recognize today, including the giant squid and the platypus.

Ohio is thought by some to be home to some of these kinds of creatures, including Northeast Ohio's Grassman and Lake Erie Bessie. State Representatives Tristan Rader and Jean Schmidt have even been working to pass House Bill 821 that would name the Loveland Frogman as the state's official cryptid.

On Wednesday's edition of 'Sound of Ideas' hosted by Stephanie Haney, we'll talk through these ideas with John Scalzi, an Ohio-based science fiction author known for his "Old Man's War" series and one off books like "Starter Villain," has taken the plunge into the world of cryptids with his new book called "Monsters of Ohio," which comes out on Tuesday, Nov. 3.

You can find tickets to his book tour here.

Guest:
- John Scalzi, Author, "Monsters of Ohio"

Political ads shine brighter spotlight on pivotal Ohio races With less than one week until Election Day, Ohio continues to be part of the national conversation not only for the potential impact of pivotal races, but also for its especially nasty campaign ads. One ad in particular has divided the Republican party, being praised as "powerful" by President Donald Trump with Vice President JD Vance saying he's "disgusted" by Republicans "whining" about it, while Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has called for the ad to be taken down, describing it as "deeply, deeply troubling." The ad came from the campaign of Republican governor candidate Vivek Ramaswamy. It shows the estranged mother of his Democratic opponent Dr. Amy Acton calling her daughter a lifelong liar. Backstory not included in the ad is that Acton hasn't seen her mother since 1978, when she was removed from her custody at the age of 12 following a grand jury indicting her mother's husband, Acton's stepfather, for allegations that he had been sexually assaulting her for several years. This is just one ad we'll analyze in the Wednesday edition of “Sound of Ideas” hosted by Stephanie Haney, in our “Law of The Land” series where we look at how the law affects our everyday lives. This as has brought up the question of what's legally permissible from a First Amendment free speech perspective in political ads, as well as the difference between what can be done and what should be done by campaigns. The "should" part of the conversation will look at not only the human moral element, but also strategy concerns, as we know the goal of campaign ads is to reach voters and influence the results of an election. Our experts weighing in today include R Strategy Group president and CEO Jeff Rusnak who has written and produced political ads for several decades for candidates at all levels, including Sherrod Brown who is currently running for U.S. Senate, and Marcy Kaptur, who is seeking re-election in the U.S. House, Jack Lucas Consulting's Dave Warren who is a veteran of four presidential campaigns, and helped lead Republican efforts in Northeast Ohio from 2015–2019, and First Amendment attorney David Marburger who has represented journalists in public figure defamation cases for decades. In addition to hosting 'Sound of Ideas,' Stephanie is licensed to practice law in both Ohio and California. Guests: - Jeff Rusnak, Democratic Political Strategist, R Strategy Group - Dave Warren, Republican Political Strategist, Jack Lucas Consulting - David Marburger, First Amendment Attorney, Marburger Law 'Monsters of Ohio' book explores concept of cryptids in the Buckeye State Halloween is in a few days, and some of the holiday's longest-running spooky costumes celebrate the lore of Bigfoot and the Loch Ness Monster. These creatures are known as cryptids, or animals who some assume to exist though that has not been scientifically proven. In some cases, what were once considered cryptids have turned out to be animals we recognize today, including the giant squid and the platypus. Ohio is thought by some to be home to some of these kinds of creatures, including Northeast Ohio's Grassman and Lake Erie Bessie. State Representatives Tristan Rader and Jean Schmidt have even been working to pass House Bill 821 that would name the Loveland Frogman as the state's official cryptid. On Wednesday's edition of 'Sound of Ideas' hosted by Stephanie Haney, we'll talk through these ideas with John Scalzi, an Ohio-based science fiction author known for his "Old Man's War" series and one off books like "Starter Villain," has taken the plunge into the world of cryptids with his new book called "Monsters of Ohio," which comes out on Tuesday, Nov. 2. Guest: - John Scalzi, Author, "Monsters of Ohio"

Warren is like many Northeast Ohio cities trying to remake themselves. The county seat of Trumbull has seen steel mills close, automakers and other industries leave and people move away for better opportunities.

In this election year, we’re taking a closer look at Warren and what concerns voters there.

Four people who live in and around Warren sat down to chat with WKSU Host Amy Eddings back in 2024, and again this past year, before the midterm elections.

They spoke about what issues they're most concerned with as they get ready to vote. From data centers, to affordability, nasty campaign ads, and the feeling of not being aligned with either of the major political parties.

We’ll share that conversation on Tuesday’s “Sound of Ideas hosted by Stephanie Haney.

Guests:

- Riley DeCavitch

- Paul Ringold

- Julie Stout

- Michael Scharfenberg

- Amy Eddings, Host, Morning Edition, Ideastream Public Media

"Buckeye" by Patrick Ryan has been called sweeping, pastoral, and epic yet intimate.

The book tells the story of two couples, Cal and Becky Jenkins and Margaret and Felix Salt, whose paths cross on the home front during World War II and whose families remain intertwined for decades afterward.

The author is a Bowling Green State University graduate, who sets the novel in a fictional Ohio town, located somewhere between Toledo and Dayton.

The book topped many 'Best Of' lists back in 2025, was praised by Tom Hanks, and picked by Jenna Bush Hager as one of her book club books.

Patrick Ryan spoke with Drew Maziasz on the "Sound of Ideas" ahead of 'Buckeye' being released in paperback. He talked about spending his college years here in Ohio at BGSU, the inspiration for the book, as well as the praise he's received.

Cleveland's Pay Transparency Law

For many looking for employment - navigating online job applications can feel like finding a needle in a haystack. Job titles and experience can vary in the same field, and many employers don't disclose what a job actually pays, which could mean wasted time and effort going through an interview process for a salary that doesn't match the candidate's expectations.

One year ago, Cleveland joined several major cities, as well as 18 states, in passing a pay transparency law that requires employers with 15 or more employees to include salary ranges in job postings and bars them from asking applicants about their salary history.

The aim was to give workers more negotiating power, and help reduce the wage gap for women, and workers of color. According to the National Women's Law Center, full-time working women make 81 cents on the dollar compared to their white male counterparts, and the gap is larger for mothers and women of color.

But how is that new law in Cleveland faring so far? And what more could be done to help reduce the pay gap?

We'll start the hour talking with experts including the organization in charge of enforcing the ordinance on Monday's "Sound of Ideas," guest hosted by Drew Maziasz.

Guests:

- Alfie Chatman-Walter, Program Manager, Fair Employment Wage Board, Mayor's Office of Equal Opportunity, City of Cleveland

- Katie Soditch, HR Director Consultant, Connected HR

- Joyce Chen, Ph.D., Professor of Economics in Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies, The Ohio State University

"Buckeye" Book

"Buckeye" by Patrick Ryan has been called sweeping and epic 'master stroke' of American literature.

The book tells the story of two couples, Cal and Becky Jenkins and Margaret and Felix Salt, whose paths cross on the home front during World War II and whose families remain intertwined for decades afterward.

Ryan is a Bowling Green State University grad, who set the novel in a fictional Ohio town — somewhere between Toledo and Dayton.

The book topped many 'Best Of' lists back in 2025, was praised by Tom Hanks, and picked by Jenna Bush as one of her book club books.

Coordinating producer Drew Maziasz spoke with Ryan recently, ahead of the book's paperback release. He talked about spending his college years in Ohio at BGSU, inspiration for the book, as well as the praise he's received.

Guest:

- Patrick Ryan, Author, "Buckeye"

What everyone is talking about this week, and what leads the Friday Reporters Roundtable, is the deeply personal attack ad by Vivek Ramaswamy's campaign featuring the estranged mother of his opponent for governor, Dr. Amy Acton.

And not just the ad, which gave voice to the woman who stayed married to the man Acton accused of sexually abusing her as a child, but the reaction. Bipartisan repudiation from across the country. Still, will the October surprise benefit Ramaswamy, or backfire spectacularly?

Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield still doesn't have a deal with the Cleveland Clinic, meaning the Clinic's advertised "world class care" may not be available next year to those insured by Anthem.

Big counties that want to increase sales taxes would have to get voter approval under a law proposed by State Sen. Tom Patton in response to discussions about an unvoted hike in Cuyahoga to cover stadium repairs.

And after major renovations, orangutans at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo can bask in the sunshine. Those stories and more on this week's Reporter's Roundtable.

Guests:

- Glenn Forbes, Deputy Editor, Ideastream Public Media

- Matt Richmond, Reporter - Criminal Justice, Ideastream Public Media

- Karen Kasler, Bureau Chief, Ideastream Statehouse News Bureau

LEAP Conference in Saudi Arabia

An earlier conversation on Thursday's "Sound of Ideas" featured an expert from the Middle East Institute talking about how the growth of artificial intelligence is reshaping the economy of Middle Eastern countries, and how the U.S. war on Iran is impacting the region's ambitions to become an AI hub.

Host Stephanie Haney spoke with a Cleveland professor and our resident tech-guru who recently traveled to the Middle East to attend the biggest technology conference in the world, LEAP, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, joining an estimated 200,000 other attendees.

Guest:

- Jared Bendis, Digitization and New Media Specialist, Case Western Reserve University

A.I. in the Middle East

As the conflict between the U.S. and Iran stretches on for more than half a year, countries around the globe are feeling the ripple effects.

Oil production is being impacted, shipping lanes are closed and energy prices have spiked. Those energy concerns also create new problems for the Middle East's technology sector.

Mohammed Soliman is a Senior Fellow at the Middle East Institute who studies how technology, particularly the growth of A.I. is reshaping the economy of Middle Eastern countries. His work also digs into how an emerging A.I. sector in the Middle East changes the dynamic between global powers like the U.S. and China.

Thursday on the "Sound of Ideas" hosted by Stephanie Haney, we'll hear a conversation between Haney and Soliman, while he was in town for an event organized by the Cleveland Council on World Affairs.

Guest:

- Mohammad Soliman, Senior Fellow, Middle East Institute

LEAP Technology Conference

Then we'll talk to a Cleveland professor and our resident tech guru, Jared Bendis.

Bendis recently traveled to the Middle East to attend the biggest technology conference in the world — LEAP— in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, joining an estimated 200,000 other attendees.

Guest:

- Jared Bendis, Digitization and New Media Specialist, Case Western Reserve University

"Shuffle"

We'll end the show with another episode of Shuffle," where we'll hear about a childhood hangout in Northeast Ohio that served as the inspiration for a new album from a Cleveland-area musician who performs as "Zup."

Ideastream Public Media's Amanda Rabinowitz talked with Brett Zupka about the memories behind "Macedonia Commons."

Guests:

- Brett "Zup" Zupka, Musician

- Amanda Rabinowitz, Host and Producer, "Shuffle" and "All Things Considered"

OH 13th Congressional District candidates

Ohio's 13th Congressional District, which covers all of Summit County and parts of Stark and Portage Counties, was home to one of the most competitive U.S. House races in the state in 2024. But many have wondered whether that would still be the case, after the Republican-majority Ohio Redistricting Commission redrew its boundaries last year, along with those of 14 other Ohio districts.

Last week, the Akron Press Club held individual forums with the major party candidates running for the 13th District — Democratic incumbent Congresswoman Emilia Sykes and Republican Carey Coleman, a political newcomer. Independent candidate Sandeep Dixit, a mechanical engineer, is also on the ballot, but was not invited to participate in a forum.

Each forum gave the audience an opportunity to submit questions, which were then asked by Ideastream Public Media's Andrew Meyer.

Sykes has held this seat since 2023. Prior to that, she served for eight years in the Ohio House of Representatives.

Coleman is a veteran journalist, having worked most recently as the host of a daily talk show on Akron radio station WNIR. He lists himself as a community leader and a conservative voice.

We heard excerpts of these conversations on Wednesday's "Sound of Ideas," hosted by Stephanie Haney.

Guests:

- Emilia Sykes, Congresswoman & Democratic candidate for OH 13th Congressional District

- Carey Coleman, Republican candidate for OH 13th Congressional District

New Ideastream health series - "Health Check"

To close Wednesday's show, we highlighted Ideastream newsroom's newest health series called "Health Check," that will share the latest health "news you can use" each week from our health reporter Ida Lieszkovszky.

She joined host Stephanie Haney to talk about the series and some of the health news she has coming down the pike.

Guest:

- Ida Lieszkovszky, Health Reporter, Ideastream Public Media

Does your vote matter in Ohio?
More than 350,000 Ohioans have already voted in person in the midterm election after polls opened early last week, according to the Ohio Secretary of State's Ohio Absentee and Early Voting Data dashboard. Over 100,000 absentee ballots have also already been returned, despite efforts by President Donald Trump to restrict mail-in voting.

Experts say that there's been a dramatic surge in early voting this election, as Ohioans decide on a new governor, congressional seats, and state Supreme Court justices. But still, some voters feel disengaged from politics or concerned about the state of our democracy and have questioned the power of voting.

Voters may wonder — why does it matter if I vote when it seems like some politicians block out our voices after they are elected? What are blue and red waves? And, how important are the midterm elections?

We'll discuss these questions and more Tuesday on the "Sound of Ideas," hosted by Stephanie Haney.

This conversation is part of Ideastream's Listen, Engage, Vote initiative. This summer, our staff went to libraries across Northeast Ohio to hear what people cared about ahead of the midterms. We're using those conversations with voters to help inform our election coverage.

Guests:
- Tom Sutton, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus, Baldwin Wallace University
- Brianna Mack, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Politics & Government, Ohio Wesleyan University
- Lique Gates, Senior Strategist, Cleveland VOTES

Poets for Science
Next month, the worlds of poetry and science collide at Kent State University's Wick Poetry Center for the Poets for Science Gathering.

Those two worlds may seem very different, but Jane Hischfield, the founder of the Poets for Science group says, "Both are instruments of discovery... Each seek to ground our lives in both what exists and the sense of the large, of mystery and awe."

We'll close the show on Tuesday learning more about the Poets for Science Gathering happening Nov. 12-14.

Guests:
- David Hassler, Director, Wick Poetry Center, Kent State University.
- Kimberly Blaeser, Founding Director, Indigenous Nations Poets, & past Wisconsin Poet Laureate

As the 2026 American League Championship series winds down, the Cleveland Guardians are now one game away from elimination and play tonight in St. Petersburg, Florida, after dropping their last two games at home against the Tampa Bay Rays.

The Guardians were up 2-1 in the ALCS going into the weekend games, but now momentum has shifted and they're on the losing end of this 3-2 matchup. Their backs are against the wall as they fight for a chance to compete in the World Series against the well-rested Milwaukee Brewers, who swept the Los Angeles Dodgers last week in the National League Championship series.

If the Guardians can manage to win on the road tonight, they'll need another win in Florida on Tuesday to advance to Game 1 of the World Series, set to be played on Friday.

On Monday's episode of the 'Sound of Ideas,' we'll talk about what adjustments they could make in hopes of going the distance.

Guest:

- Joe Posnaski, Author, Sports Journalist, Host, "The PosCast"

Future of death penalty uncertain in Ohio with upcoming change in governor following midterm election Imagine spending nearly 40 years in prison for a crime you didn't commit. That's what happened to Cleveland native Rickey Jackson, who was locked up at the age of 18 after police coerced a twelve-year-old boy into fraudulently naming him as a murderer. His story of being exonerated and released in 2014 with the help of the Ohio Innocence Project is the subject of a recently-released documentary called 'Lovely Jackson,' but his story could have had a much different ending. Rickey was initially sentenced to death. In his case, a flaw on the jury verdict form led to his death sentence being thrown out in exchange for life in prison, but had that not happened, the state of Ohio could have executed an innocent man. Since 1999, Ohio has completed 56 executions of death row inmates, with the last being carried out in July of 2018 when John Kasich was governor. Since Governor Mike DeWine took office in January of 2019, he has delayed every scheduled execution date, and has recently called for the abolishment of the death penalty in Ohio. He leaves office at the end of this year, leaving the fate of at least 105 people currently sitting on death row in the balance, as the candidates running to replace him have differing views on utilizing the death penalty. Republican Vivek Ramaswamy has said he vows to reinstate executions if elected, while Democrat Dr. Amy Acton has said she would respect the state's current moratorium on executions, and would listen to Ohioans on the issue. Libertarian Don Kissick is opposed to explicitly because of the possibility of wrongful convictions. On Monday's episode of the 'Sound of Ideas' hosted by Stephanie Haney, we look at issues related to the death penalty and wrongful convictions as part of our ongoing 'Law of The Land' series where we look at how the law affects our everyday lives. We talk with Rickey Jackson about his wrongful conviction, and what life has been like for him, before, during and after his imprisonment. We also talk with his legal counsel and an advocate for death penalty reform, both from the Ohio Innocence Project. Guests: - Rickey Jackson, Exoneree - Brian Howe, Staff Attorney, Ohio Innocence Project - Pierce Reed, Director of Policy and Engagement, Ohio Innocence Project Cleveland Guardians fight for place in World Series As the 2026 American League Championship series winds down, the Cleveland Guardians are now one game away from elimination and play tonight in St. Petersburg, Florida, after dropping their last two games at home against the Tampa Bay Rays. The Guardians were up 2-1 in the ALCS going into the weekend games, but now momentum has shifted and they're on the losing end of this 3-2 matchup. Their backs are against the wall as they fight for a chance to compete in the World Series against the well-rested Milwaukee Brewers, who swept the Los Angeles Dodgers last week in the National League Championship series. If the Guardians can manage to win on the road tonight, they'll need another win in Florida on Tuesday to advance to Game 1 of the World Series, set to be played on Friday. On Monday's episode of the 'Sound of Ideas,' we'll talk about what adjustments they could make in hopes of going the distance. Guest: - Joe Posnaski, Author, Sports Journalist, Host, "The PosCast"

The Tenth District Court of Appeals has ruled Ohio’s universal EdChoice school voucher program unconstitutional. Writing for the three-judge panel, Judge David J. Leland said the program funds a separate school system, lacks state oversight and is unavailable to many rural Ohioans who help pay for it. He also said it diverts taxpayer dollars from public schools, causing financial hardship and making it harder for districts to secure funding through local levies.

The Cleveland Department of Public Health is proposing changes to its Lead Safe Certification Program that would extend certification periods for properties based on the amount of lead remediation completed. All certificates would be valid for three years, while properties with replaced windows could qualify for five-year certificates. Properties with replaced windows, porches and doors could qualify for 10-year certificates.

The legislation was introduced at City Council on Monday and is expected to go to committee next week before a final vote.

Proposed changes to the Cleveland's waste collection ruleswould expand enforcement authority and allow more city workers to issue citations. The changes would allow $1,000 civil fines for illegal dumping, issued to property owners or people caught dumping trash from vehicles. The same fine could apply to littering.

The proposal has not yet received a council vote and must go through the committee process.

Two Democratic state lawmakers are proposing statewide rules for electric bikes and scooters, saying the changes would improve safety, particularly for children. Rep. Eric Synenberg of Beachwood and Sen. Bill DeMora of Columbus propose requiring helmets for all riders, prohibiting children younger than 14 from operating e-bikes or e-scooters, barring children younger than 12 from riding with companions younger than 21 and limiting speeds to 10 mph on shared-use paths and 5 mph on sidewalks.

The lawmakers hope to pass the regulations before spring, when e-bikes and e-scooters become more common on the streets.

We'll discuss these stories and more on the Friday Reporters Roundtable hosted by Mike McIntyre.

Guests:
- Abbey Marshall, Reporter - Power and Influence, Crain's Cleveland Business
- Andrew Meyer, Deputy Editor - News, Ideastream Public Media
- Sarah Donaldson, Reporter, Ideastream Statehouse News Bureau