Ray Horner Show

From the hysteria surrounding the pandemic to political and social unrest, American cities large, medium, and small have been affected in some way.

Akron mayor Dan Horrigan joined the Ray Horner Morning Show to touch on a slew of issues, from downtown construction to security measures. First, the construction is underway on Main Street between Mill and Market, so passengers may have to take different routes getting around downtown. With security, Horrigan says they remain “on guard” in case a protest turns into a riot or insurrection, even at the local level.

As for events in 2021, Horrigan believes they can hold some events down the road, as long as there is a “centralized approach” for getting people vaccinated. If the city needs to get creative and convert event centers or even Canal Park into vaccination sites, the mayor is open to those options.

A troop of gorillas at the San Diego Zoo recently tested positive for COVID-19. How common is it for animals, both wild or domesticated, to catch this virus? And is it as dangerous and fatal as it has been with human beings?

According to Elena Bell from the Akron Zoo, there have been some cases of animals getting the virus, but no known fatalities, as she mentioned on the Ray Horner Morning Show. But to be extra careful, Elena says Akron Zoo staff are wearing PPP not only out and about through the complex, but also while preparing food and amenities for the animals. The zoo is also limiting crowds by requiring reservations.

Later in the spring, perhaps early summer, Wild Asia will make its debut at the Akron Zoo after a delay.

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine says he would ideally want students back in the classrooms full-time by March 1st, nearly one full year since districts began early spring breaks and remote learning. Many want the kids back in school, but that still poses a few questions and hurdles some seven weeks out.

David James is the superintendent of Akron Public Schools, and he joined the Ray Horner Morning Show to touch on the plans for a vaccine rollout in his district. James says there is some pressure on the school districts to get this accomplished, with a timeline needed for faculty to get inoculated to get going.

If indeed the students in APS are back in the schools March 1st, James also talked about the adjustments the administrators and faculty, as well as the students, will have to make to ensure continued safety.

As COVID-19 continues to rage on, some Americans have the ability and luxury to work from home. But many do not, and with the threat of the virus always there, there could be some liability protection in the workplace.

Tony Tsarouhas is an attorney in the Akron area, and he joined the Ray Horner Morning Show to touch on the legal side of the outbreak. Tsarouhas talked about OHSA and employee’s rights, especially if a workplace is not following the state’s COVID-19 protocols indoors.

As the Capitol Hill riots took the headlines since Wednesday afternoon, COVID-19 took a backseat as far as news coverage goes. But the pandemic continues to rage on.

Donna Skoda is the commissioner of Summit County Public Health, and she joined the Ray Horner Morning Show to go over the rollout so far of the vaccine. Skoda says they have had plans in place with mass vaccination distribution since the days of H1N1 from over a decade ago. The county is vaccinating the healthcare workers and most vulnerable under the “1A” plan of the rollout.

Though a vaccine is here, and many will have the opportunity to get inoculated, Skoda stresses the importance of the mitigation tactics such as masks, social distancing, and avoiding gatherings.

Kent State University History Professor, expert on insurrections, compares/contrasts mob attack on Capitol with past uprisings.

Former University of Akron interim president Dr. John Green, who is also with the Bliss Institute, talked about how dangerous the president’s rhetoric over the last four years culminated in the Capitol Hill protests.

Ohio congressman Tim Ryan was also in DC yesterday, and he did not mince words in calling for either President Trump’s impeachment or removal from office via the 25th amendment.

Kent State University’s Dr. Mark Cassell was on the ground in Washington DC and he set the scene for those who only saw the actions on TV.

CBS News law enforcement analyst Paul Viollis discusses the failures of the Capitol Police and who should be held accountable.