Sound of Ideas

AAA predicts that a record 72.2 million Americans will travel during the week of July 4, crowding the roads with extra traffic. Meanwhile, it's the so-called 100 deadliest days of summer -- the time from Memorial Day to Labor Day when the most traffic crashes occur.

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine signed off on the state's new two-year operating budget at the deadline late Monday night into Tuesday. The $60 billion dollar spending plan includes money for a new Browns stadium in Brook Park. The state will chip in $600 million taken from unclaimed funds held by the Ohio Department of Commerce. The budget also flattens Ohio's income tax down to a single bracket meaning everyone, minus those who are exempted, will pay the same 2.75% tax rate. DeWine, however, did strike 67 elements from the budget using his line-item veto. It's by far the most he's used the line-item veto. For comparison, on the last operating budget, DeWine used the veto pen 44 times. Statehouse leaders have questioned why the governor removed elements of the budget viewed as property tax relief. Later, we bring you an excerpt from the 11th and final episode of the "Living for We: Keep Ya Head Up" podcast.

As the Fourth of July weekend approaches, water safety and drowning prevention guidance is crucial. In the last month, more than five people have died by drowning in Northeast Ohio and dozens more have been rescued on the Cuyahoga River.

On Friday, the Supreme Court ruled that lower federal judges had overstepped their authority by imposing nationwide injunctions that blocked President Trump's executive order curbing birthright citizenship.

Ohio's new two-year $60 billion operating budget is off to Gov. Mike DeWine. The budget passed through a reconciliation committee, and both chambers of the legislature this week. The budget is massive coming in at 5,000-plus pages laying out a mix of spending, tax cuts and policy measures. One of the most watched items: whether the state should pick up part of the tab for the Browns domed stadium in Brook Park. The final budget came down on the side of the Senate plan to tap the state's Unclaimed Funds to pay $600 million toward the project. The operating budget contains many other spending details including for schools and libraries. It also includes a change to the state's income tax –essentially flattening the tax so that everyone who's required to pay state taxes pays the same percentage regardless of what they make. Gov. Mike DeWine can still use a line-item veto to strike out elements of the budget if he chooses to do so.

We'll discuss the latest strikes in Iran, and the greater role the U.S. is playing in the Middle East.

Generation X, born between 1965 and 1980, is often called the "sandwich generation" because many are simultaneously caring for their aging parents while still supporting their own children. On Tuesday's program, we'll talk to local Gen Xers about life, societal pressures and growing up before the start of the digital age.

A panel of foreign policy experts discusses the radical foreign policy changes happening in the second Trump administration, from tariffs to policy in the Middle East.

Ohioans have told lawmakers they need to do something about increasing property taxes. While a grassroots effort to put a constitutional amendment before voters to abolish property taxes works to collect petition signatures, a number of other bills and proposals are taking shape at the Statehouse. One of those bills would reduce property tax collections by $3.5 billion is getting pushback. House Bill 335 would eliminate the 1% property tax value that schools and local governments can levy without voter approval. It's known as inside millage. The bill is sponsored by Republican state Representative David Thomas of Jefferson, in Ashtabula County. Schools and local governments say the bill would be cataclysmic for school staffing and public services. Property taxes and what to do about them begins this week’s discussion of news on the “Sound of Ideas Reporters Roundtable.”

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. recently removed members of a vaccine advisory panel for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Experts say this could impact vaccine rate, availability and insurance coverage.

The center is celebrating this milestone and Pride Month amidst a slew of changing laws and orders on the state and federal levels, from banning gender-affirming care to prohibiting DEI programs at public universities.

Between a low supply of houses and sellers accepting cash offers, the housing market for first time buyers is tough right now.

Ohio Senate Republicans passed their version of the budget on Wednesday which included money for a new domed Browns stadium and would over the course of the budget reduce the state's income tax brackets to a flat tax. No Democrats in the Senate voted for the budget. Now negotiations move to a conference committee to work out differences between the Senate and House versions which will then be signed by Governor Mike DeWine who has line-item veto power. We will begin the Friday “Sound of Ideas” Reporters Roundtable with the Senate version of the budget and the potential compromises that could come in the reconciliation process.

A new trail connecting Downtown Cleveland to the city's west side and creating new one-way streets are aimed at fostering more pedestrian activity and safety.

We will talk with academics in politics and law about a newly implemented travel ban as well as the call-up of the National Guard and Marines in Los Angeles.

Public schools are waiting to see how Ohio will fund K-12 districts, as lawmakers debate different proposals in the next operating budget which needs to be finalized, passed and signed by the end of June.

On the "Sound of Ideas" we will talk to several people living with ADHD, and a doctor who works in diagnosis and treatment.

The Ohio Senate this week revealed its initial budget proposal, and it included $600 million for a Browns stadium in Brook Park, but from a new funding source. Instead of backing bonds -- borrowed money with interest -- as the House proposed, the Senate proposed taking $1.7 billion from the state's unclaimed property fund to create a Sports and Culture Facility Fund, $600 million of which would be directed toward the Browns project. The city of East Cleveland currently has two people claiming the title of mayor. The president of the city council, Lateek Shabazz, was sworn in Sunday days after the conviction of Mayor Brandon King. Back in February, Cuyahoga County Probate Court Presiding Judge Anthony Russo had appointed Sandra Morgan to the post after King was suspended pending trial. City council members say the conviction ended that temporary appointment, and the charter says the council president moves into the job. The interim mayor, Sandra Morgan, says she's going nowhere until the judge says she done. We will begin Friday’s “Sound of Ideas Reporters Roundtable” discussing the Senate budget including the funding to education as well as the East Cleveland mayoral situation.

The new law, which goes into effect in October, was introduced by Ward 17 Councilmember Charles Slife. It also bans employers from asking applicants for their salary history.

As the state's new operating budget takes shape in Columbus, we're getting a look at what priorities the Senate has for spending over the next two years.