Ray Horner Show

Like many cities across the United States, Akron is experiencing a spike in gun violence and crime in 2020. According to recent statistics, the homicide rate in Akron is up 50%, and the amount of murders in 2020 has already matched that of 2019 (33).

The mayor of Akron, Dan Horrigan, called into the Ray Horner Morning Show to discuss the rise in shootings and homicides. Horrigan has deployed a gun violence task force to work with the communities in getting the illegal guns off the streets.

The mayor admits the pandemic and lockdowns may have exacerbated the crime spree, but he has noticed its uptick began before the thick of the virus.

School years across the country will be quite different to start, and Akron Public Schools is no exception. But what does it mean for a classroom to go totally virtual.

David James, superintendent of Akron Public School, explained what a virtual classroom will look like on the Ray Horner Morning Show. Students will need to check in each morning for attendance, and teachers will do a roll call later to make sure everyone is still on board. The students’ lesson plans will be available for them via Google Classroom.

The superintendent also touched on the additional training for the teachers and faculty to instruct remotely, and what he expects will come down from the governor as far as a fall sports season goes.

Cities both large and small have been affected in some or many ways due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But how have those medium-sized towns, the large suburbs, handled matters?

Cuyahoga Falls mayor Don Walters called into the Ray Horner Morning Show to give an update on his city, which is the second-largest in Summit County by size and population. On the plus side, Walters says retail sales have grown since the reopening phases in May, and construction and resurfacing projects are on schedule. However, a big hit to his town was the canceling of events at Blossom Music Center, which have traditionally been a boon for the north end of the area.

Blossom has pushed their concerts and events to 2021, with most performances close to the original date from 2020.

Patrick Bravo heads up the school board, and he explained the decision by the board to delay the school year and start remotely.

Even with remote learning, all athletic programs and extracurriculars have been delayed until October 1st. Joe Vassalotti is the athletic director at Akron Public Schools, and though he has empathy for the student-athletes, he understands the delay due to the safety concerns and recent spikes locally.

As for fall sports at the University of Akron, the plug was pulled over the weekend by the Mid-American Conference. Zips athletic director Larry Williams discussed the tough decision that came down, and the possibility of some or all the fall sports being moved to the spring of 2021.

First up is Tim Stried, the senior director of communications from the OHSAA. Stried says they are awaiting word from Governor Mike DeWine on how to operate this season, from testing to social distancing, from contact to non contact.

Tim leads a writer's workshop in LA, that has now gone worldwide through Zoom, for military, designed to help them get jobs writing for books, movies, and TV.

Author Shannon Huffman Polson discusses her new book, “The Grit Factor: Courage, Resilience, and Leadership in the Most Male-Dominated Organization in the World".

Pandemic causing some changes in Akron Stories Project, Rubber Worker Statue on track.