How would permanent daylight saving time impact Ohioans?
It is a common misconception that daylight saving time was created to give farmers an extra hour of sunlight for fieldwork. Its history goes much deeper.

During World War 1, the United States established the Standard Time Act of 1918, to modernize our time zones and require sunrise and sunset to happen later in warmer months. It was an effort to conserve fuel and energy – which we came to know as daylight saving time – and it was repealed after the war but reinstated in 1966 through the Uniform Time Act.

The system is up for debate again in today's Congress, with House Bill 139, called the "Sunshine Protection Act." This would make daylight saving time permanent. It's been passed by the U.S. House and now awaits consideration by the Senate. It's a topic that's often fiercely debated, tied to sleep cycles and safety concerns. And some people think our current system, while annoying to adjust our car clocks and microwaves two times a year, remains the best option.

On Wednesday’s “Sound of Ideas” we'll hear from health experts, a national reporter, and an education advocate on how daylight saving time affects our bodies and our communities, and the arguments for and against permanently changing our clocks.

Guests:
- Heather Trnka, Injury Prevention Manager, Akron Children's Hospital
- Scott Karlo, Executive Director, Ohio Public School Advocacy Network
- Dan Diamond, White House Reporter, Washington Post
- Swaroop Pinto, M.D., Director, Pediatric Sleep Medicine, Akron Children's Hospital

Cuyahoga County Public Library CEO
The Cuyahoga County Public Library has over 700,000 cardholders across its system with 27 branches located throughout Northeast Ohio.

While CCPL has been on the receiving end of plenty of national praise over the years, library systems across the country are facing unique challenges, from discussions about the reduction or elimination of property taxes, to continued pressures over the removal of controversial books and materials.

Jamar Rahming joined Cuyahoga County Public Library in August 2025, closing in on his one-year anniversary, and was just elected as the president of the Public Library Association, a nationwide library advocacy organization.

He spoke about his first year with CCPL, as well as the new elected position with the PLA.

Guest:
- Jamar O. Rahming, CEO, Cuyahoga County Public Library; President, Public Library Association

Cuyahoga County Council clash over elected sheriff proposal

Cuyahoga County is the only county in Ohio where the sheriff is appointed instead of elected.

The change came as part of the county's sweeping government overhaul following a public corruption scandal that led voters to approve a new county charter in 2009.

Supporters argued that making the sheriff an appointed position would strengthen oversight and accountability. But after years of turnover in the office, critics now question whether the system has delivered on those promises.

Tuesday on the “Sound of Ideas,” we'll explore the question: Should Cuyahoga County return to an elected sheriff?

We'll look at why the county adopted this system, how a revolving door of sheriffs over the past decade has fueled calls for change and the competing proposals now before the council.

Guest:
- Mark Puente, Staff Writer, The Marshall Project - Cleveland

Easy Day Away: Dayton and Yellow Springs

For those looking to travel without stretching their budget, we're spotlighting destinations within a short drive of Northeast Ohio in our series, "Easy Day Away."

Each destination can be enjoyed as a day trip or a quick weekend getaway. Last month, we featured New York's Chautauqua County, just over a two-hour drive from Cleveland.

In this installment, we're staying in Ohio to highlight Dayton and Yellow Springs, about a three-hour drive to the southwestern part of the state. Whether you're interested in exploring Dayton's history as the Birthplace of Aviation or taking a scenic hike to the Yellow Spring at Glen Helen Nature Preserve, these destinations offer a chance to experience what makes Ohio unique.

Guests:
- John Oney, President and CEO, Destination Dayton
- Nick Boutis, Executive Director, Glen Helen Association
- Carly Kumbusky, Taproom Manager, Yellow Springs Brewery

Cuyahoga County Council clash over elected sheriff proposal

Cuyahoga County is the only county in Ohio where the sheriff is appointed instead of elected.

The change came as part of the county's sweeping government overhaul following a public corruption scandal that led voters to approve a new county charter in 2009.

Supporters argued that making the sheriff an appointed position would strengthen oversight and accountability. But after years of turnover in the office, critics now question whether the system has delivered on those promises.

Tuesday on the “Sound of Ideas,” we'll explore the question: Should Cuyahoga County return to an elected sheriff?

We'll look at why the county adopted this system, how a revolving door of sheriffs over the past decade has fueled calls for change and the competing proposals now before the council.

Guest:
- Mark Puente, Staff Writer, The Marshall Project - Cleveland

Easy Day Away: Dayton and Yellow Springs

For those looking to travel without stretching their budget, we're spotlighting destinations within a short drive of Northeast Ohio in our series, "Easy Day Away."

Each destination can be enjoyed as a day trip or a quick weekend getaway. Last month, we featured New York's Chautauqua County, just over a two-hour drive from Cleveland.

In this installment, we're staying in Ohio to highlight Dayton and Yellow Springs, about a three-hour drive to the southwestern part of the state. Whether you're interested in exploring Dayton's history as the Birthplace of Aviation or taking a scenic hike to the Yellow Spring at Glen Helen Nature Preserve, these destinations offer a chance to experience what makes Ohio unique.

Guests:
- John Oney, President and CEO, Destination Dayton
- Nick Boutis, Executive Director, Glen Helen Association
- Carly Kumbusky, Taproom Manager, Yellow Springs Brewery

Ohio's property taxes help pay for things like public schools, parks, police departments and other local services, generating about $24 billion in revenue a year.

But homeowners have been feeling pinched lately, as some counties have seen double digit increases in property valuations leading to higher taxes for some. That has led to calls for reform, with one group hoping to eliminate property taxes entirely, with eyes now on the 2027 ballot, after failing to get a constitutional amendment proposal on this November's ballot.

Ideastream Public Media has been going to public libraries and community events this summer all across Northeast Ohio to learn about the issues that are driving people to vote, and we've heard over and over that property taxes are a key issue on the top of voters' minds.

That's why our newsroom recently took a weeklong deep dive into the issue called, "Ideastream Explores: Property Taxes."

On Monday's "Sound of Ideas," we're going to highlight some of that reporting. We'll learn about legislative reform efforts, how property taxes impact Ohio's farmers, and what would happen if funding for important resources like libraries and parks were changed. That's part of this special edition of the Sound of Ideas.

First, we'll learn more about the controversial movement to eliminate property taxes in the state with Ohio Statehouse News Bureau Chief Karen Kasler.

Then, we'll learn about how rising property taxes are impacting a distinct group of landowners — farmers. Ideastream's Richard Cunningham shares how farmers are faring in today's economic landscape, and we'll hear from a longtime farmer and head of the Ohio Farm Bureau, Bill Patterson.

Finally, we'll learn how reform or abolishment of property taxes could be devastating to the vast public services that rely on this revenue to fund their operations, including parks and libraries. We'll be joined by Ideastream Public Media's Kabir Bhatia and Zaria Johnson for this part of the conversation.

Guests:

- Karen Kasler, Bureau Chief, Ideastream Statehouse News Bureau

- Richard Cunningham, Engaged Journalism Reporter, Ideastream Public Media

- Bill Patterson, Co-owner, Patterson Farms & President, Ohio Farm Bureau

- Kabir Bhatia, Senior Arts and Culture Reporter, Ideastream Public Media

- Zaria Johnson, Environmental Reporter, Ideastream Public Media

Ohio's race for governor is bringing competing visions for property tax relief into focus. Democratic candidate Dr. Amy Acton is proposing targeted relief for homeowners, including expanding the homestead exemption and creating an income-based property tax cap. Republican candidate Vivek Ramaswamy has called for dramatically reducing property taxes and has previously supported eliminating them altogether.

The Ohio EPA has abandoned a proposed statewide permit that would have allowed data centers to discharge wastewater under a single set of rules. Instead, the agency will require each facility to obtain an individual permit with a project-specific environmental review. The decision came after the agency received thousands of public comments raising concerns about potential impacts on Ohio waterways.

An investigation published this week by Mother Jones details allegations against U.S. Rep. Max Miller involving claims of domestic violence, drug use and threats. Miller, who is campaigning for reelection, has denied wrongdoing and challenged many of the allegations in court, while some related investigations remain ongoing.

Akron's Northside Marketplace will permanently close July 31 after its owners said mounting debt and financial challenges made the business unsustainable. The closure leaves more than 100 vendors searching for new locations. One vendor is encouraging others to sell their products at a similar store, The Mercantile Akron, which is expected to open soon downtown.

Wednesday marked the 230th anniversary of Cleveland's founding on July 22, 1796. Events across the city are celebrating Cleveland's history, neighborhoods and cultural legacy.

We will discuss these stories and more news of the week on the "Sound of Ideas Reporters Roundtable."

Guests:
- Anna Huntsman, Reporter, Ideastream Public Media
- Andrew Meyer, Deputy Editor of News, Ideastream Public Media
- Karen Kasler, Bureau Chief, Ideastream Statehouse News Bureau

School officials discuss importance of funding via property taxes and concerns over reform efforts

In May, only about one in three school levies in Ohio were approved in the primary, compared to the year previous when almost 2/3rds of levies were approved, causing some districts to wonder whether, among growing calls to reform or even abolish property taxes, voters are tiring of funding public education via tax hikes at the ballot box.

But most public schools rely on these levies and property taxes to fund essential services from salaries to building maintenance to future improvements.

Today, as our Ideastream Explores: Property Taxes series continues, we'll hear from local school leaders, a tax researcher and our education reporter, about the role property taxes play in funding Ohio's schools and what it could mean if they are reduced via reform. We'll also talk about the movement hoping to end property taxes entirely.

Guests:
- Conor Morris, Education Reporter, Ideastream Public Media
- Sara Elaqad, Board Chair, Cleveland Metropolitan School District
- Scott Russ, Board President, Canton City School District
- Aditi Srivastava, Tax Researcher, Policy Matters Ohio

"The Menu: Grocery Stores"

Several weeks ago, it was announced that the Heinen's grocery store in Downtown Cleveland, located in the historic Cleveland Trust bank building, would be closing its doors.

The store reported that it lost $18 million over the 11 years it was open.

That closure means that Constantino's Market, which has been operating in the Warehouse District for just over 20 years, will be the sole grocery store serving Downtown residents.

The closure raises bigger questions about the profitability of grocery stores, how much of a population is required to keep a store afloat and the overall changing habits of shoppers.

That's the focus of this week's installment of "The Menu," Ideastream's series produced with Cleveland Magazine, focusing on the region's food scene.

Guests:
- Andrew Revy, CEO, Constantino's Market
- Dillon Stewart, Editor, Cleveland Magazine
- Mark Rulli, Co-owner, Rulli Brothers Italian Markets and Grocery Stores

Property taxes generate more than $20 billion dollars in tax revenue in Ohio each year. They help pay for public schools, emergency services, libraries and parks.

Lately, some home owners are feeling financial pressure from rising property taxes across the state. This is directly connected to property valuations that have gone up, including by an average of 32% in Cuyahoga County.

This pressure is part of the reason some people are calling to reform or even abolish Ohio’s property tax. Others think people simply shouldn’t be taxed on property they’ve already paid for. The group leading the property tax ban effort, Ax Ohio Tax, failed to collect enough signatures in time to get their initiative on this November’s ballot but organizers are already looking ahead to 2027.

If property taxes are reformed or completely eliminated, what would happen to the services that rely on that source of funding to operate? Would schools, police, and parks see funding cuts, or could there be an alternative source of revenue?

These were some of the questions that were posed at the latest "Sound of Ideas Community Tour," which was held at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. Panelists representing a wide variety of perspectives, spoke with a live and lively audience about everything from why they believe property taxes should or shouldn't be reformed, to how school funding operates, to the value of parks to the general public.

Guests:

- Brian Zimmerman, CEO, Cleveland Metroparks

- Frank Antenucci, Chief Deputy Administrator, Geauga County Auditor's Office

- John Plecnik, Associate Professor of Law, Cleveland State University; Commissioner, Lake County

- Pat Shipe, President, Akron Education Association

How do property taxes work in Ohio townships?

At Monday night's "Sound of Ideas: Community Tour" event, we discussed efforts to reform, or even eliminate, Ohio's property tax system and we heard from the public schools, parks and programs that count on that funding.

Tuesday on the "Sound of Ideas," we'll discuss another group that relies heavily on property taxes: Ohio's 1,308 townships. They are unique in that they don't levy municipal income taxes. More than 35% of Ohioans live in a township.

We'll hear from folks in Stark and Portage counties about the role property taxes play in their communities and what the proposed changes could mean for their future.

Guests:
- Joseph Bica, Treasurer, Portage County
- Matt Kelly, Auditor, Portage County
- Anna Huntsman, Reporter, Ideastream Public Media

"Something in the Woods Loves You"

It's estimated that almost 20% of adults in the U.S. deal with some form of depression — that's around 50 million people.

Depression can look like a lot of different things, from losing interest in daily activities, pulling away from friends and family to thoughts of suicide.

Addressing depression also widely varies from simply changing diet or sleep habits, to therapy with a professional, to the use of medications.

Jarod Anderson is an Ohio-based writer and poet whose book, "Something in the Woods Loves You," chronicles his own experiences with depression and how his first step to getting help was taking a walk in the woods.

Ideastream's Drew Maziasz spoke with Anderson ahead of his appearance at the Nature Center at Shaker Lakes.

You can find information about Anderson's event here.

Guests:
- Jarod Anderson, Author, "Something in the Woods Loves You"
- Drew Maziasz, Coordinating Producer, Ideastream Public Media

"Ideastream Explores" Launches

Property taxes generate roughly $24 billion annually for local governments and help finance schools, police and fire departments, infrastructure, parks, libraries, and more throughout Ohio.

These taxes have become essential for the operation of those services but have also become a financial strain for many across the state.

The outcry against that financial burden became so loud, that a group - Ax Ohio Tax - attempted to collect enough signatures to put an initiative to abolish property taxes statewide on November's ballot.

Last month, we learned that the group didn't collect enough signatures, but that doesn't mean the conversation about property taxes is over.

Monday, Ideastream launches a week of reporting through the 'Ideastream Explores' series digging into property taxes. We learn more about that endeavor on Monday's "Sound of Ideas."

Guests:

- Justin Glanville, Deputy Editor - Engaged Journalism, Ideastream Public Media

Property Tax Legislation

After learning about the 'Ideastream Explores' series, we talk to a lawmaker who's been working on legislation addressing property taxes.

Rep. David Thomas (R) joins the program to talk about his experience in the state legislature working on bills at the Statehouse to provide some relief to property owners.

Guests:

- David Thomas, State Representative – District 65 (R)

CIFF Shakeup

We close show with a look at a leadership change at the Cleveland International Film Festival.

This month, the head of CIFF, Hermione Malone, resigned, following a controversial two years in office.

The Detroit native's reign included multiple accusations of workplace toxicity. She attributed claims made in 2025 to change in leadership, and said that staff needed to "recalibrate." She also strongly refuted recent claims of verbal and emotional abuse by a former staffer made in April.

Guests:

- Kabir Bhatia, Senior Arts Reporter, Ideastream Public Media

Canadian wildfire smoke prompted an air quality advisory across Ohio on Thursday, with Northeast Ohio reaching hazardous air quality levels.

The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency urged everyone, but especially those with heart or lung conditions, children, older adults and pregnant women, to stay indoors. The health effects of breathing in wildfire smoke may include asthma attack, chest pains, coughing, headaches, runny nose, stinging eyes, wheezing and shortness of breath.

Cleveland has extended its contract with Flock Safety's license plate reader cameras for six months.

The contract extension was shortened from one year and includes new privacy protections that prohibits outside access to data collected by the cameras without a warrant. Cleveland's contract with Flock began in 2023 and includes about 100 cameras at locations around the city.

CrimeRadar, an app that uses artificial intelligence to track potential criminal activity, falsely reported an active shooter at the University of Akron on Tuesday. Akron police confirmed there was no shooting.

In December, the app also falsely reported a shooting at a Streetsboro elementary school.

Republican candidate for governor, Vivek Ramaswamy, received the endorsement of the state's largest business lobbying group, the Ohio Chamber of Commerce. The group has only backed Republicans for governor in the 16 years that it's been endorsing candidates for that office.

In his announcement, Ramaswamy said he plans to eliminate Ohio's income tax and the tax on capital gains. A memo from legislative researchers obtained by the Statehouse News Bureau in April showed more than 55% of the benefit would go to those making over $1 million a year.

And the U.S. House of Representatives has voted to make Daylight Saving Time permanent. The measure, named the "Sunshine Protection Act," now heads to the Senate.

We will discuss these stories and more news of the week on the “Sound of Ideas Reporters Roundtable.”

Guests:
- Conor Morris, Reporter, Ideastream Public Media
- Matthew Richmond, Reporter, Ideastream Public Media
- Karen Kasler, Bureau Chief, Ideastream Statehouse News Bureau