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Weekly Reporter Roundtable: Vivek Ramaswamy and Amy Acton advance in Ohio governor's race May 11, 2026

Show notes

Ohio’s primary voters have had their say, and now we move on to November’s general election.

The governor’s race between Republican Vivek Ramaswamy and Democrat Amy Acton promises to be historic, expensive....and contentious.

We’ll have the rundown of statewide and congressional candidates squaring off in the fall. Bottom line: No big surprises.

Attorney General Dave Yost calls it quits, setting up the potential for some musical chairs at the statehouse.

And voters in Pickerington say no to a levy ask, leaving school leaders to grapple with stark financial realities.

We're discussing all of these topics during this week's Reporter Roundtable.

Guests:

Jessie Balmert, state government and politics reporter, The Columbus Dispatch
Andrew Tobias, state government and politics reporter, Signal Ohio
Susan Tebben, reporter, Ohio Capital Journal

(photo: Carolyn Kaster and Jay LaPrete / AP)

Fascinating Ohio: A Route 66 photographer, a local author and a 'Fairy Goodmother' May 07, 2026

Show notes

This year marks the centennial of Route 66, the iconic American highway stretching from Chicago to LA and celebrated in story, song and television.

It’s been over 30 years since the highway was decommissioned, but we will hear from one photographer who’s love of Route 66 has been memorialized in the form of stamps.

A local author is fusing history lessons with ghost stories to create a fun and interesting way to learn Ohio history. Having already written two books in his “Ohio Kids” series and coming out with a third, he is continuing his family tradition of finding new ways of teaching.

Cost should never prevent students from sharing experiences with their peers and having a good time. Fairy Goodmothers is a Worthington boutique that allows high school students to pick out prom dresses for free.

Guests:

David J. Schwartz, Route 66 Fine Art & Editorial Photographer
Logan Lyons, author
Katie Persico, president, Fairy Goodmothers

Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland President and CEO Beth Hammack May 07, 2026

Show notes

All eyes are on the economy — watching oil prices, grocery costs and inflation.

Nobody is watching it closer than the Federal Reserve, the body responsible for setting interest rates that affect everything from mortgages to car loans to business borrowing.

And the most recent Fed meeting was a doozy, as Fed meetings go: members kept interest rates steady, but one faction dissented and that included the president of the Federal Reserve of Cleveland.

Joining us today to talk about the economy, inflation and the role of the Fed is president and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland Beth Hammack.

Guests:

Beth Hammack, president/CEO, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland
Benjamin Ayers, senior economist, Nationwide

Spring gardening tips May 06, 2026

Show notes

Spring is finally here, and it's time to dust off those trowels and watering cans with the start of the gardening season.

From edible plants to shrubbery, herbs, and flowers, gardening can be a rewarding and fun experience, but also stressful and nerve-racking.

What are some of the best tips for new and experienced gardeners, and is there anything different this year than in the past?

We will have experts ready to answer all the questions you have, from what you should plant this year to key dates and interesting tips.

Plus, we will have a preview of the popular Chadwick Arboretum Plant Sale.

Guests:

Laura Deeter, director, Chadwick Arboretum and Learning Gardens
Katie Carey, owner and founder, Columbus Foodscapes
Mike Hogan, extension educator/associate professor of agriculture and natural resources, Ohio State University

Society's 'prevention gap' May 06, 2026

Show notes

Prevention is a powerful form of civic action: that's according to a new book that explores the “prevention gap” in society.

Find out why adopting a true prevention mindset is essential to protecting public health and building a more resilient future.

The Preventioneers: Diseases, Disasters, and the Discoveries that Changed Our World by Dr. Barry R. Davis chronicles the work of people who recognized the warning signs of disaster and intervened.

Hear from Dr. Davis about what we can learn from these prevention pioneers or “preventioneers” to make the world a better place in the future.

Guest:

Dr. Barry Davis, author, The Preventioneers: Diseases, Disasters, and the Discoveries That Changed Our World

Tech Tuesday: What's behind the TikTok Shop boom? May 05, 2026

Show notes

If you haven’t yet bought anything on TikTok Shop, odds are you will eventually.

Through videos and clever user appeals it is moving merchandise. Both shoppers and retailers are taking notice.

TikTok Shop is expected to make up a quarter of all U.S. social commerce sales by 2027.

How are they doing it?

More central Ohio police departments are scanning our license plates and our car’s make and model.

We’re talking about why and the technology behind it.

And how is YouTube protecting people from AI deepfakes and with rising costs is the delivery meal kit boom finally starting to fall?

Discussions on these topics and more is all part of this week's Tech Tuesday.

Guests:

Peter Adams, senior reporter, Marketing Dive
Katie Geniusz, reporter, WOSU Public Media
Russell Holly, director of commerce content, CNET

What are the latest updates on passenger rail plans in Ohio? May 05, 2026

Show notes

Columbus is the only major U.S. city without a train station, but that could change.

Interest in passenger rail connecting Ohio’s major cities and the bordering states is growing.

On the heels of the recent Ohio Rail Summit, we’re talking about the latest updates on the push for passenger rail in Ohio.

Guests:

Marc Magliari, senior public relations manager, Amtrak
Paraq Agrawal, chief mobility and development officer, Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission
John Esterly, executive director, All Aboard Ohio

Untangled: Immigration Workforce May 04, 2026

Show notes

A new report from the American Immigration Council shows that immigrants play a crucial role in Ohio’s economy.

In 2023, immigrants earned $27.3 billion in income and paid $7.3 billion in local, state and federal taxes.

Immigrants help fill Ohio’s workplace shortages.

Hear from the City of Columbus about how they are connecting immigrants to in-demand jobs in central Ohio.

And learn about the key role H-2A Visa workers play in Ohio’s food system.

Guests:

Micaela McConnell, policy manager on the State and Local Initiatives team, American Immigration Council
Kym Douglas, director of the City of Columbus' Department of Neighborhoods
Anisa Kline, human geographer and researcher with expertise in immigration, guest worker programs and farmworker health

Weekly Reporter Roundtable: US Supreme Court hears cases on two big issues impacting Ohioans May 04, 2026

Show notes

The U.S. Supreme Court last week took on two issues that will directly affect Ohioans.

One involves the future of Haitians in Ohio with temporary protected status.

The other weakens the decades-old Voting Rights Act, a law intended to ensure more racially-balanced voting districts.

The Ohio Supreme Court says AEP Ohio customers won’t get any money back after paying millions to support two aging coal plants.

Have you voted yet? Tomorrow is Election Day and it's your chance to select the candidates who will face off in November. Polls open at 6:30 a.m.

Controversial Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. comes to Cleveland on Thursday.

We're discussing all of it on this week's Reporter Roundtable.

Guests:

Kathryn Mobley, education and politics reporter, WYSO
Jeremy Pelzer, chief politics reporter, Cleveland.com
Marty Schladen, reporter, Ohio Capital Journal
Shane Stegmiller, reporter, Hannah News Service

(photo: Luis Andres Henao / AP)

Fascinating Ohio: An award-winning CEO, artistic director and humanitarian realtor Apr 30, 2026

Show notes

Humtown, a family-owned producer of 3D sand cores and molds, was founded in Columbiana, Ohio.

Since its founding in 1959 as a small pattern shop, they have now become a global leader in 3D printing.

The owner was recently awarded the honor of Ohio Small Businessperson of the Year.

It is the Chamber Music Connection’s 35th anniversary. The nonprofit music academy has been teaching children and adults chamber music here in Columbus.

We will learn more about the expert behind the programs and all they have to offer.

The award-winning documentary "No Sleep Til Kyiv" was released in January. A volunteer representing Ohio's 8^thand 10^th districts as a delegate for the American Coalition for Ukraine was featured in the film.

We will hear more about his advocacy and efforts.

It's all part of this week's edition of Fascinating Ohio.

Guests:

Mark Lamoncha, CEO/president, Humtown/Ohio’s 2026 Small Businessperson of the Year
Deborah Barrett Price, artistic director, Chamber Music Connection, Inc.
Jon Gudorf, realtor/truck driver for Ukraine humanitarian aid

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