All Sides with Amy Juravich

After repeatedly postponing executions for the past seven years, Gov. Mike DeWine officially confirmed his change of heart on the death penalty.

It’s a policy he helped to write 45 years ago as a state lawmaker, but last week he said Ohio should abolish the death penalty and if lawmakers won’t do it, then the voters should decide.

We will talk about the issue on this week's reporter roundtable.

Guests:

• Marty Schladen, reporter, Ohio Capital Journal
• Sarah Donaldson, reporter, Ohio Statehouse News Bureau
• Morgan Trau, political reporter, News 5 Cleveland

A U.S. Air Force veteran recently returned to Taiwan 53 years after serving there.

Columbus native and journalist TC Brown reflects on that time long ago and the geopolitical realities facing the island nation today.

Growing a small business is difficult. It requires a significant amount of tech expertise. Buckeye Innovation is a software engineering team located in New Albany that helps businesses design and build digital tools.

The founder has been making websites since the 6th grade and is dedicated to supporting other innovators growing their businesses.

The CEO and co-founder of the Women of Color Retail Alliance was just recognized as one of Columbus Monthly’s 2026 class of Inspiring Women.

The organization is working to diversify retail jobs and elevate Women of Color within those roles through training and support networks.

Guests:

• TC Brown, journalist/author
• Brad Griffith, founder, Buckeye Innovation
• Kimberly Lee Minor, CEO and co-founder, Women of Color Retail Alliance

Farmers markets serve many purposes to communities, people in need, farmers and the overall economy.

Farms large and small are an important part of Ohio's economy. One place where some farmers promote their business and sell their products are local community farmers markets.

Christie Welch, program specialist for direct agricultural marketing at Ohio State, will discuss the economics of farmers markets.

Worthington Farmers Market director will discuss running and organizing a large-scale farmers market, and they will also bring along one vendor for the farmers perspective.

Hope Thru Housing Mobile Farmers Market will discuss how they bring farmers markets to low-income areas that may lack fresh food to provide fresh and affordable produce.

Guests:

• Christie Welch, program specialist, direct agricultural marketing, Ohio State University
• Chelsea Kayse, manager of the Worthington Farmers Market
• Jason Wish, owner of Wishwell Farms
• Sam Alexander, healthy eating and living program coordinator at Church and Community Development for All People

When Ohio native and Ohio State alum Brad Ryan’s parents got divorced, it ripped his family apart.

But he found a way to reconnect with his estranged grandmother by way of visiting all of America's national parks.

The journey made them famous. At 93 years old, Grandma Joy became the oldest person to visit all 63 national parks, even the one in American Samoa. She achieved this goal thanks to her grandson and his Ford Escape, which took them across thousands of miles and through dozens of states.

Ryan has turned their story of adventure and connection into a book: Grandma Joy and Me: A Journey of Healing, One National Park at a Time.

He joins us on this hour of All Sides to discuss his travels with his grandmother.

Guest:

• Brad Ryan, author, Grandma Joy and Me: A Journey of Healing, One National Park at a Time

On July 4, America will mark its 250th birthday.

Across the country, states are planning celebrations highlighting their unique contributions to America.

From aviation to presidents to music, Ohio has made significant contributions to America.

On this hour of All Sides, we’ll talk about Ohio’s plans to celebrate America's semi-quincentennial.

Guests:

• Todd Kleismit, executive director, America 250 — Ohio Commission
• Taylor Tomu, community outreach manager, America 250 -- Ohio Commission
• Bobby Miller, director of production, Columbus Association of the Performing Arts

There are many different methods that companies use to recycle those plastic water bottles you toss in the blue bin. One of those ways is called chemical recycling.

But one company that was doing chemical recycling in central Ohio, is both using heat -- and taking heat and is now suspending operations.

In the new Toy Story 5 movie, it’s a battle for play time between beloved toys Woody, Buzz and the gang – and a tablet named Lily Pad.

It’s a dilemma that’s playing out in real life, and that got us wondering about tech, animation, and pop culture.

Apple promised in 2024 we would have AI-operated Siri. Two years later, they are finally delivering: not only new AI features, but also compensation for some customers who were told their new iPhones would have those features.

We're discussing these topics during this week's Tech Tuesday.

Guests:

• Doug Swift, assistant professor, Denison University/reporter, The Reporting Project
• Tiffany Knoell, associate teaching professor, Department of Popular Culture, Bowling Green State University
• Russell Holly, director of commerce content, CNET

(photo: Keith Srakocic/AP)

The Columbus metropolitan area is one of the fastest-growing metropolitan areas in the United States.

The Central Ohio Transit Authority, better known as COTA, has many projects underway to make getting around the area easier.

We're talking with COTA President and CEO Monica Téllez-Fowler to find out about those initiatives on this hour of All Sides.

Guest:

• Monica Tellez-Fowler, president and chief executive officer, Central Ohio Transit Authority

Columbus Landmark has released its 2026 Most Endangered Sites list.

Included are the Fairwood Elementary School on Columbus’ east side and the Beacon Building downtown.

The buildings are a connection to the city’s past, provide character, and attract development and tourism.

However, while they may appear solidly built, letting them sit abandoned leaves them vulnerable to vandalism, declining property values, and loss of revenue for the city.

Coming up, we’re talking about the most endangered sites in the city and what can be done to save them.

Guests:

• Chris Hune, CEO of Columbus Landmarks Foundation
• Dale Ward, construction manager with Small Nation
• Frank Quinn, director of preservation for Heritage Ohio

The FBI searched the Cleveland offices of Ohio Organizing Collaborative, a group that organizes political and voter engagement activities for left-leaning and progressive causes.

Before Ohio lawmakers left for their summer recess, they made a big push to try to crack down on types of welfare fraud, with new restrictions on both Medicaid and SNAP benefits.

However, their efforts to eliminate tax credits for data centers were hampered by a 40-year, 100% sales tax credit agreed to by then-Gov. John Kasich’s administration during his second term. That tax break to Google, Amazon and Meta and other companies has cost the state an estimated $2.3 billion.

We'll discuss this and more on the Weekly Reporter Roundtable show.

Guests:

• Karen Kasler, bureau chief of the Ohio Public Radio Statehouse News Bureau
• Andrew Tobias, state government and politics reporter for Signal Ohio
• Megan Henry, reporter for the Ohio Capital Journal

(Photo: Samantha Hendrickson/AP)

The heat is on here in central Ohio. As the temperatures rise, many people are seeking relief. Part of the plan can include a good book, whether you read outdoors by the pool or inside under a fan or central air.

All Sides Weekend Host Christopher Purdy and his guests will share some book suggestions you might want to consider adding to your stack of must-read titles.

Host:

• Christopher Purdy, Classical 101 Morning Host

Guests:

• Kassie Rose, WOSU Book Critic
• Kris Hickey, youth services coordinator, Columbus Metropolitan Library
• Michelle Hermann, author and Ohio State professor of English emerita