Ray Horner Show

The number of COVID-19 cases has been rising of late, but so has the vaccination rate. Most adult Ohioans have the capability of getting their vaccine, and many have been fully vaccinated, in that they have already had their second shot.

Governor Mike DeWine joined the Ray Horner Morning Show to talk about the latest numbers and the rates of vaccination, which have been encouraging. However, he still maintains Ohioans need to keep masking up and keeping the measures going in order to get back to some normalcy. By using sports terminology, DeWine says the mask is the defense and the vaccine is the offense.

The governor has had to balance the health measure side with economics for the last 13 months, and he sees a light at the end of the tunnel. Restaurants have seen an increase in diners, and DeWine believes Ohio will see a nice summer if everything goes to plan.

Each Thursday morning, Akron mayor Dan Horrigan joins the Ray Horner Morning Show to touch on various topics, from the COVID-19 pandemic and how it’s affecting the city to overall infrastructure, to….Devo?

Yes, the city of Akron is celebrating Devo Day on April 1st, and that is no joke. This is a community-wide push to get the eclectic band into the Rock ’n’ Roll Hall of Fame, and Horrigan believes the proclamation was the appropriate thing to do. And on the topic of entertainment, the city of Akron is moving forward with improvements to Canal Park, which they own. Horrigan talked about how important Canal Park is to the community, not just for baseball, and how upgrading the seating is a big first step.

The mayor also talked about continued infrastructure in the city, as well as the possibility of city-wide broadband, much like what Fairlawn has with Fairlawn Gig.

The Cleveland Indians navigated their way through the pandemic-shortened 2020 season to yet another playoff appearance, though they got swept by the Yankees in the first round. But the team looks a lot different in 2021, and will look even more different going forward with the search for a new name and mascot.

Paul Dolan is the CEO and part-owner of the Cleveland Indians, and he joined the Ray Horner Morning Show ahead of Thursday’s opening game in Detroit. First, Dolan spoke about the changes the organization has had to make in order to house fans at Progressive Field in 2021. And on that topic, how the pandemic has affected them personally and in their pocketbooks.

The trade of Francisco Lindor bothered fans, and as much as the Indians would have wanted to keep him around, their hands were tied.

"It was a move we absolutely had to make,” says Dolan.

"It’s the unfortunate reality,” when talking about a sport like baseball without a salary cap. However, Dolan says, "It doesn’t prohibit us from competing.”

The roster is not the only thing on the minds of the organization. A lot of aspects are going into the future name of Cleveland’s baseball team, but when will an announcement be made? Dolan says there is not exactly a hard deadline to make the change, but one will have to be made at some point in the coming months.

Any news on the future name of the team?

"We’re making progress,” says Dolan. “But we don’t have a green light on a particular name yet."

This conversation with Paul Dolan is sponsored by Red Wing Shoes.

Lt. Serjie Lash commenting on incident involving AFD firefighter who sprayed citizen who was filming.

Summit County Health Commissioner Donna Skoda says you can start signing up to get your vaccine at the Summit County Fairgrounds mass vaccination site, starting today or tomorrow. Go to their website for more info, scph.org

Akron Community Legal Aid Managing Attorney, John Petit, talks to Jeanne Destro about what the federal government's extension of the pandemic moratorium on evictions means for low income area residents.

City Planning Director, Jason Segedy, discusses the new Auld Farms housing development, and downtown development in the wake of COVID.

Powerful wind storm, First Energy says Akron hardest hit, repairs could take days.

Summit County Health Commissioner, Donna Skoda, on opening the county's mass vax site at the fairgrounds, the week of April 5.

Horrigan discussing the search for Na'Kia's killer.