Sound of Ideas

Ideastream Public Media
  • 4.7 (33)
  • News Commentary
  • Updated Daily

The "Sound of Ideas" is Ideastream Public Media's daily flagship public affairs program focusing on Northeast Ohio.

  1. 7h ago

    Ohio governor candidates unveil more detailed property tax relief plans | Reporters Roundtable

    Ohio's race for governor is bringing competing visions for property tax relief into focus. Democratic candidate Dr. Amy Acton is proposing targeted relief for homeowners, including expanding the homestead exemption and creating an income-based property tax cap. Republican candidate Vivek Ramaswamy has called for dramatically reducing property taxes and has previously supported eliminating them altogether. The Ohio EPA has abandoned a proposed statewide permit that would have allowed data centers to discharge wastewater under a single set of rules. Instead, the agency will require each facility to obtain an individual permit with a project-specific environmental review. The decision came after the agency received thousands of public comments raising concerns about potential impacts on Ohio waterways. An investigation published this week by Mother Jones details allegations against U.S. Rep. Max Miller involving claims of domestic violence, drug use and threats. Miller, who is campaigning for reelection, has denied wrongdoing and challenged many of the allegations in court, while some related investigations remain ongoing. Akron's Northside Marketplace will permanently close July 31 after its owners said mounting debt and financial challenges made the business unsustainable. The closure leaves more than 100 vendors searching for new locations. One vendor is encouraging others to sell their products at a similar store, The Mercantile Akron, which is expected to open soon downtown. Wednesday marked the 230th anniversary of Cleveland's founding on July 22, 1796. Events across the city are celebrating Cleveland's history, neighborhoods and cultural legacy. We will discuss these stories and more news of the week on the "Sound of Ideas Reporters Roundtable." Guests:- Anna Huntsman, Reporter, Ideastream Public Media- Andrew Meyer, Deputy Editor of News, Ideastream Public Media- Karen Kasler, Bureau Chief, Ideastream Statehouse News Bureau

  2. 1d ago

    School officials discuss importance of funding via property taxes, concerns over reform efforts

    School officials discuss importance of funding via property taxes and concerns over reform efforts In May, only about one in three school levies in Ohio were approved in the primary, compared to the year previous when almost 2/3rds of levies were approved, causing some districts to wonder whether, among growing calls to reform or even abolish property taxes, voters are tiring of funding public education via tax hikes at the ballot box. But most public schools rely on these levies and property taxes to fund essential services from salaries to building maintenance to future improvements. Today, as our Ideastream Explores: Property Taxes series continues, we'll hear from local school leaders, a tax researcher and our education reporter, about the role property taxes play in funding Ohio's schools and what it could mean if they are reduced via reform. We'll also talk about the movement hoping to end property taxes entirely. Guests:- Conor Morris, Education Reporter, Ideastream Public Media- Sara Elaqad, Board Chair, Cleveland Metropolitan School District- Scott Russ, Board President, Canton City School District- Aditi Srivastava, Tax Researcher, Policy Matters Ohio "The Menu: Grocery Stores" Several weeks ago, it was announced that the Heinen's grocery store in Downtown Cleveland, located in the historic Cleveland Trust bank building, would be closing its doors. The store reported that it lost $18 million over the 11 years it was open. That closure means that Constantino's Market, which has been operating in the Warehouse District for just over 20 years, will be the sole grocery store serving Downtown residents. The closure raises bigger questions about the profitability of grocery stores, how much of a population is required to keep a store afloat and the overall changing habits of shoppers. That's the focus of this week's installment of "The Menu," Ideastream's series produced with Cleveland Magazine, focusing on the region's food scene. Guests:- Andrew Revy, CEO, Constantino's Market- Dillon Stewart, Editor, Cleveland Magazine- Mark Rulli, Co-owner, Rulli Brothers Italian Markets and Grocery Stores

  3. 1d ago

    Sound of Ideas Community Tour | Ideastream Explores Property Taxes

    Property taxes generate more than $20 billion dollars in tax revenue in Ohio each year. They help pay for public schools, emergency services, libraries and parks. Lately, some home owners are feeling financial pressure from rising property taxes across the state. This is directly connected to property valuations that have gone up, including by an average of 32% in Cuyahoga County. This pressure is part of the reason some people are calling to reform or even abolish Ohio’s property tax. Others think people simply shouldn’t be taxed on property they’ve already paid for. The group leading the property tax ban effort, Ax Ohio Tax, failed to collect enough signatures in time to get their initiative on this November’s ballot but organizers are already looking ahead to 2027. If property taxes are reformed or completely eliminated, what would happen to the services that rely on that source of funding to operate? Would schools, police, and parks see funding cuts, or could there be an alternative source of revenue? These were some of the questions that were posed at the latest "Sound of Ideas Community Tour," which was held at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. Panelists representing a wide variety of perspectives, spoke with a live and lively audience about everything from why they believe property taxes should or shouldn't be reformed, to how school funding operates, to the value of parks to the general public. Guests: - Brian Zimmerman, CEO, Cleveland Metroparks - Frank Antenucci, Chief Deputy Administrator, Geauga County Auditor's Office - John Plecnik, Associate Professor of Law, Cleveland State University; Commissioner, Lake County - Pat Shipe, President, Akron Education Association

  4. 2d ago

    Ohio townships rely heavily on property taxes. What happens if that funding is reformed?

    How do property taxes work in Ohio townships? At Monday night's "Sound of Ideas: Community Tour" event, we discussed efforts to reform, or even eliminate, Ohio's property tax system and we heard from the public schools, parks and programs that count on that funding. Tuesday on the "Sound of Ideas," we'll discuss another group that relies heavily on property taxes: Ohio's 1,308 townships. They are unique in that they don't levy municipal income taxes. More than 35% of Ohioans live in a township. We'll hear from folks in Stark and Portage counties about the role property taxes play in their communities and what the proposed changes could mean for their future. Guests:- Joseph Bica, Treasurer, Portage County- Matt Kelly, Auditor, Portage County- Anna Huntsman, Reporter, Ideastream Public Media "Something in the Woods Loves You" It's estimated that almost 20% of adults in the U.S. deal with some form of depression — that's around 50 million people. Depression can look like a lot of different things, from losing interest in daily activities, pulling away from friends and family to thoughts of suicide. Addressing depression also widely varies from simply changing diet or sleep habits, to therapy with a professional, to the use of medications. Jarod Anderson is an Ohio-based writer and poet whose book, "Something in the Woods Loves You," chronicles his own experiences with depression and how his first step to getting help was taking a walk in the woods. Ideastream's Drew Maziasz spoke with Anderson ahead of his appearance at the Nature Center at Shaker Lakes. You can find information about Anderson's event here. Guests:- Jarod Anderson, Author, "Something in the Woods Loves You"- Drew Maziasz, Coordinating Producer, Ideastream Public Media

  5. 3d ago

    Ideastream launches new series exploring property taxes

    "Ideastream Explores" Launches Property taxes generate roughly $24 billion annually for local governments and help finance schools, police and fire departments, infrastructure, parks, libraries, and more throughout Ohio. These taxes have become essential for the operation of those services but have also become a financial strain for many across the state. The outcry against that financial burden became so loud, that a group - Ax Ohio Tax - attempted to collect enough signatures to put an initiative to abolish property taxes statewide on November's ballot. Last month, we learned that the group didn't collect enough signatures, but that doesn't mean the conversation about property taxes is over. Monday, Ideastream launches a week of reporting through the 'Ideastream Explores' series digging into property taxes. We learn more about that endeavor on Monday's "Sound of Ideas." Guests: - Justin Glanville, Deputy Editor - Engaged Journalism, Ideastream Public Media Property Tax Legislation After learning about the 'Ideastream Explores' series, we talk to a lawmaker who's been working on legislation addressing property taxes. Rep. David Thomas (R) joins the program to talk about his experience in the state legislature working on bills at the Statehouse to provide some relief to property owners. Guests: - David Thomas, State Representative – District 65 (R) CIFF Shakeup We close show with a look at a leadership change at the Cleveland International Film Festival. This month, the head of CIFF, Hermione Malone, resigned, following a controversial two years in office. The Detroit native's reign included multiple accusations of workplace toxicity. She attributed claims made in 2025 to change in leadership, and said that staff needed to "recalibrate." She also strongly refuted recent claims of verbal and emotional abuse by a former staffer made in April. Guests: - Kabir Bhatia, Senior Arts Reporter, Ideastream Public Media

  6. 4d ago

    Ohio EPA issues air quality advisory due to Canadian wildfires smoke | Reporters Roundtable

    Canadian wildfire smoke prompted an air quality advisory across Ohio on Thursday, with Northeast Ohio reaching hazardous air quality levels. The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency urged everyone, but especially those with heart or lung conditions, children, older adults and pregnant women, to stay indoors. The health effects of breathing in wildfire smoke may include asthma attack, chest pains, coughing, headaches, runny nose, stinging eyes, wheezing and shortness of breath. Cleveland has extended its contract with Flock Safety's license plate reader cameras for six months. The contract extension was shortened from one year and includes new privacy protections that prohibits outside access to data collected by the cameras without a warrant. Cleveland's contract with Flock began in 2023 and includes about 100 cameras at locations around the city. CrimeRadar, an app that uses artificial intelligence to track potential criminal activity, falsely reported an active shooter at the University of Akron on Tuesday. Akron police confirmed there was no shooting. In December, the app also falsely reported a shooting at a Streetsboro elementary school. Republican candidate for governor, Vivek Ramaswamy, received the endorsement of the state's largest business lobbying group, the Ohio Chamber of Commerce. The group has only backed Republicans for governor in the 16 years that it's been endorsing candidates for that office. In his announcement, Ramaswamy said he plans to eliminate Ohio's income tax and the tax on capital gains. A memo from legislative researchers obtained by the Statehouse News Bureau in April showed more than 55% of the benefit would go to those making over $1 million a year. And the U.S. House of Representatives has voted to make Daylight Saving Time permanent. The measure, named the "Sunshine Protection Act," now heads to the Senate. We will discuss these stories and more news of the week on the “Sound of Ideas Reporters Roundtable.” Guests:- Conor Morris, Reporter, Ideastream Public Media- Matthew Richmond, Reporter, Ideastream Public Media- Karen Kasler, Bureau Chief, Ideastream Statehouse News Bureau

  7. Jul 16

    Cyclosporiasis cases are on the rise in Ohio. How to avoid extreme diarrhea caused by parasite

    Cyclosporiasis and other public health concerns Two phrases you don't want to hear together with your food are "parasite" and "explosive diarrhea," but that's currently the reality in 34 states, as cases of cyclosporiasis, an illness causing days to weeks of severe diarrhea, have been on the rise since May, with Ohio in the middle of a four-state outbreak cluster. There are other "bugs" public health officials are concerned about in the state - including the rise of Lyme disease spread by ticks. And be careful of getting bit by a mosquito as several counties in Northeast Ohio have seen mosquitoes test positive for West Nile Virus, though there hasn't been a human case yet. We're going to talk about a range of nasty illnesses to start Thursday's "Sound of Ideas." Guests: - Erika Sobolewski, D.O., Medical Director, Summit County Public Health - Sara Cochrane, Environmental Health Supervisor, Summit County Public Health Medina Bee Park opens There is something abuzz in Medina County. The Medina Bee Park is now open for human and winged visitors alike. What was once an unused loading dock has been transformed into a vibrant community space for residents - featuring local art, native pollinator plants, and a stage for live entertainment. The $25,000 project is led by Main Street Medina and partially funded by the Medina County Beekeepers Association. We'll learn more about the park and Medina's long history of beekeeping. Guests: - George Sam, Executive Director, Main Street Medina - Manfred Heck, Associate Director, Main Street Medina - Peggy Garnes, President, Medina County Beekeepers Association "Shuffle" music podcast A Cleveland artist is honing his sound weaving together jazz, hip hop, soul, funk and other Black musical traditions. On this week's "Shuffle," Ideastream Public Media's Amanda Rabinowitz talked with Robin "Hyperius" Blake about the inspiration behind his collective — Black Voltron. Guests: - Robin "Hyperius" Blake, Artist - Amanda Rabinowitz, Host, "Shuffle," Ideastream Public Media

  8. Jul 15

    Canton’s climate action plan targets greenhouse gas emissions, affordability

    Canton City Council approves climate action plan What once seemed like the distant effects of climate change are becoming part of everyday life. Communities across the country are experiencing more prolonged extreme heat, heavier rainfall, stronger storms, droughts and unusual weather patterns. In response, local governments are looking for ways to adapt while reducing their environmental impact. Wednesday on the "Sound of Ideas," we'll turn to Canton, where city leaders have approved a new climate action plan focused on cutting greenhouse gas emissions through changes to municipal buildings, transportation and other city operations. Officials say the plan could also help residents in the long-term, in part by helping lower energy costs over time. Guest:- Robert Fisher, Canton City Council, Ward 5 Northeast Ohio launches new men's soccer team as FIFA World Cup comes to the U.S. While Cleveland wasn't one of the 11 U.S. cities to host a FIFA World Cup match this time around, it did host an international friendly match between men's soccer powerhouses Brazil and Egypt at Huntington Bank Field on June 6, drawing a crowd of tens of thousands to the stadium. That contest coincided with the launch of the brand-new semi-professional men's Lorain County Leviathan Football Club this Spring. Looking ahead over the next two years, we'll have brand new professional men's and women's soccer teams with Forest City Cleveland and Cleveland Astra kicking things off in 2027 and 2028, respectively. Today we'll explore what Northeast Ohio's soccer culture looks like when the largest soccer competition in the world isn't happening. Guests:- Andrew McDonnell, Chairman, Lorain County Leviathan Football Club- Gina Prodan Kelly, Chief Marketing Officer, Cleveland Soccer Group- Chris Lewis, Director of Marketing & Communications, Greater Cleveland Sports Commission- Jason Lansdale, President, Offside Marketing The Menu: Frozen Treats The latest heat wave made us yearn for an ice-cold treat. Luckily in Northeast Ohio there are a gallon's worth of frozen-treat options — and locally owned too! For this new installment of our food series "The Menu," produced in partnership with Cleveland Magazine, we're talking ice cream, popsicles and more. Watch the episode on The Ohio Channel or YouTube to see Stephanie Haney and guests sample a few delicious desserts! Guests:- Jesse Mason, Co-owner, Mason's Creamery- Nicole Dauria, Owner, Pop Culture

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Ratings & Reviews

4.7
out of 5
33 Ratings

About

The "Sound of Ideas" is Ideastream Public Media's daily flagship public affairs program focusing on Northeast Ohio.

Information

  • Creator
    Ideastream Public Media
  • Years Active
    2017 - 2026
  • Episodes
    566
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Ideastream
  • Show Website
    Sound of Ideas

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