That's So Cincinnati

Two years ago when Hamilton County Commissioner Stephanie Dumas voted against putting $1.3 million in earnest money toward purchasing the Millennium Hotel for redevelopment purposes, the Democrat faced criticism for standing in the way of progress.The deal got done anyway in a 2-1 vote.Today, as the hotel comes down with no plan to replace it with a new convention hotel, Dumas said about her vote: "There's no reason to cry over it."In an interview with The Enquirer's "That's So Cincinnati" podcast, Dumas said she is focused on what's next for bringing a critical convention hotel to the Downtown."It's done, and we need to move forward right now," Dumas said. "And we're still ... deciding about the expansion of Duke Energy (Convention Center) right now. The focus is just getting this headquarter hotel up. A lot of this is for the long haul."She said for the new hotel – for which there are no current plans – she prefers a site to the south of the convention center, instead of the site of where Millennium Hotel was located, which it the east of the convention center.There are talks, but no solid plans, to make the current site park space that will look nice as it all gets sorted out. The green space could be used for convention-related outdoor events.As Hamilton County's first Black commissioner and Ohio's first Black female county commissioner, Dumas is a trial blazer. She came to job after being a Forest Park councilwoman and then mayor, and then as city manager of Lincoln Heights.That experience makes her responsive to county residents."What I love most about it is people have identified that I am a commissioner that will listen, that your concerns are my concerns," said Dumas, a trained social worker. "And you may not get the answers that you want from me, but you know that I'm going to give you an honest answer."So is she running again? Cincinnati Vice Mayor Christopher Smitherman has announced a run for her seat as an independent candidate and gathering signatures. But Dumas has been mum about whether she'll run for re-election.She's still not ready to say exactly what her future holds."I'm sure you will be hearing soon one way or the other what I plan on doing because you never know what opportunity may come up for me," Dumas said.

Cincinnati restauranteur and bar owner Bob Deck, a managing partner at Four Entertainment Group, joined The Enquirer's That's So Cincinnati podcast this week to chat about: Jeff Ruby's impact on Deck's career 4EG's role in the revitalization of Downtown and Over-the-Rhine The struggles of being a bar and restaurant owner during a pandemic Expansion, including opening the Ernest Hemingway-inspired bar, Pilar, soon at the Court Street Plaza Four Entertainment Group launched about 15 years ago, around the time 3CDC was beginning its work to redevelopment Over-the-Rhine. The group has 18 bars restaurants in Cincinnati, Covington, Columbus and Chicago. It's notable Greater Cincinnati brands include: Igby's in Downtown, The Lackman in Over-the-Rhine and Keystone in Covington and Clifton.As a young adult, Deck, who grew up in Anderson Township, parked cars at Jeff Ruby's Waterfront restaurant. Deck enjoyed the experience of working in the restaurant business. He initially pursued a career as a chiropractor after graduating from Miami University, but Deck and some friends got together to start 4EG.Deck has never forgotten what some call the "Jeff Ruby experience" – it's all about impeccable customer service and making the customer feel special during their entire visit to one of Ruby's steakhouses. "It was just amazing to watch how he would always take care of people and want all of his employees to take care of people," Deck said. "From the moment you pull your car up with the valet until you're experience inside, that was what they took pride on and have continued to this day."

Bengals punter Kevin Huber has been an All-American and an All-Pro in his football career.Big awards, no doubt, but they’re not his most unique accomplishment. Huber is the rare athlete who’s been able to play every level of football in his hometown.Huber talks about his journey from McNicholas High School star to University of Cincinnati All-American to being the longest-tenured player on the Bengals’ current roster.

You probably don't know Tom Tsuchiya. But you know his work. From molding creek clay in his backyard to building statues of Cincinnati icons like Pete Rose, learn about the life of a sculptor.

Fifty West Brewing founder Bobby Slattery talks about growing his company into Greater Cincinnati's family friendly brewery; expansion into Southeast Ohio and West Virginia; and whether the region is oversaturated with breweries.

Legendary college basketball coach Bob Huggins is introspective in a wide-ranging, in-depth interview with "That's So Cincinnati" podcast. Ahead of his return to Cincinnati on June 14 to raise money for cancer research, the West Virginia University basketball coach discussed: His late mother's legacy and the effort to honor through the Norma Mae Huggins Cancer Endowment Fund His coaching style today vs. his coaching style in 16 seasons at the University of Cincinnati from 1989 to 2005 What his final days at UC were like before the school parted ways with him in summer 2005 How he believes UC is much better positioned to join the Big 12 Conference now because of what Luke Fickell has done to elevate the Bearcats' football program To learn more about the Norma Mae Huggins Endowment Fund, go to wvucancerinstitute.org.

The folks who select the Pro Football Hall of Fame classes will be calling Anthony Munoz soon.And the Bengals' only member in the Hall of Fame will tell them the same thing he always does."I always pivot when I'm talking to senior selectors, and I say, 'Let's talk about Ken Anderson,' " Munoz said. "I dominate the conversation because I'm one of the biggest advocates for Ken Anderson. He should be in the Hall of Fame and it's a travesty that he's not."That's just a sample of what Munoz discussed as this week's guest on "That' So Cincinnati."

That’s So Cincinnati: Buddy LaRosa shares the not-so-secret ingredient in the sauce that makes his pizza so special

Pam Kravetz is fun, effervescent, vivacious. Take your pick of how to describe the Cincinnati artist and suburban high school art teacher. They all fit.She's so fun, in fact, that her family and friends held a parade in Over-the-Rhine for her 60th birthday last weekend. A few hundred people, including a who's who from the local arts and entertainment scene, converged on Washington Park wearing colorful outfits and hats to honor a woman who regularly wears go-go boots, tutus and sequins.How did Kravetz go from an artsy outcast as a kid to being the life of the party and influencer on the local arts and entertainment scene?The Cincinnati native told her story on The Enquirer's "That's So Cincinnati" podcast this week."When I was little, I was that kid who never fit in," Kravetz said. "Even in kindergarten – this was the '60s – I got sent to the principal's office for wearing go-go boots and a mini-skirt."Kravetz credits her elementary and high school teachers for encouraging her to embrace her passion for art. It ended up inspiring her to pursue her own career as an art teacher. She is retiring this week as Harrison High School's art teacher after a 30-year career. Her experiences at the University of Cincinnati helped Kravetz to begin to accept that being different is OK.Said Kravetz: "I was an art kid, so we wore all black. We were kind of angsty and cool. And then I was a sorority girl. I was also the Bearcat mascot. I was all of these weird parts of a human that didn't quite fit together. But all of that speaks to the person I've become because now I'm super comfortable talking in front of people and being the center of attention."Kravetz's life has continued to be full of unique opportunities. The Enquirer once featured her and her art work, and that led to her getting a date with the man who's now her husband. Her friends nicknamed her the "Queen of Love" for how she met her husband, Craig Davis. In addition to being heavily involved in the arts scene, Kravetz has also been on a synchronized swimming team for several years at Ziegler Park in Over-the-Rhine.Her advice for those who might be struggling to embrace their passion, talent and personality."Loving yourself is huge," Kravetz said.

Sharon Kennedy grew up in Colerain Township watching police dramas on television and dreaming of becoming a cop. She achieved that goal -- and much more. Kennedy is now in her second term as an Ohio Supreme Court justice. The Butler County resident talks about how her teachers and mentors, including former U.S. House Speaker John Boehner, inspired her to run for statewide elected office. Kennedy is now exploring a run for chief justice in what could be Ohio's most intriguing race in 2022. Learn more about Kennedy's story on this week's "That's So Cincinnati."

Vivek Ramaswamy isn't really known in his own hometown. But that's likely going to change. The 35-year-old St. Xavier High School graduate is surging onto the political scene after recently leaving his lucrative career as a biotech executive. Ramaswamy is viewed in national political circles as a leader in shaping the debate about the future of the conservative movement.The author of the upcoming book "Woke, Inc.," joined The Enquirer's That's So Cincinnati podcast to discuss how he went from suburban Cincinnati to successful entrepreneur to helping to shape the debate about whether conservatism has a place in the GOP's future.

Carl Lindner III sat down with The Enquirer's That's So Cincinnati podcast to reflect on the road to bringing Major League Soccer to Cincinnati and what his dad, Carl Lindner Jr., would think if he were still alive.

Can Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley lead a Democratic resurgence in Ohio? How did Indiana native go from chemistry major to running for Ohio governor? And what's it going to be like facing good friend John Cranley in the 2022 primary? Whaley has the answers and more on The Enquirer's That's So Cincinnati podcast.

Total Quality Logistics isn't a household name in its hometown, but it has quietly become a booming nationwide success.The Greater Cincinnati-based freight brokerage corporation is now looking to take on a higher profile at home. TQL is going big, too, with Wednesday's announcement that the company has purchased naming rights to FC Cincinnati's new West End stadium.In an interview with The Enquirer's That's So Cincinnati podcast, TQL President Kerry Byrne offered insight into why his company is making a big branding splash.

Dr. Lakshmi Sammarco admittedly knew nothing about politics when the nationally renowned neuroradiologist was appointed Hamilton County coroner nine years ago.But the Democrat is pretty good at the politics now.An elected official can't get a major project done without having political savvy, and Sammarco has relentlessly led efforts to get a $55 million, 90,000-square-foot crime lab built in Blue Ash. The ribbon-cutting is scheduled for May 3. Sammarco has also emerged as a common-sense voice in the Hamilton County Democratic Party, having been outspoken about incivility and the divisive nature of identity politics.As this week's guest on The Enquirer's That's So Cincinnati podcast, Sammarco talked about her evolution in politics; being outspoken in the party; the new crime lab and how she copes with seeing so much death.

The Cincinnati Fire Department is short staffed and working so much overtime firefighters are exhausted.This year has brought a high number of fire deaths for residents – six so far compared to two in 2020. Both things mean the Cincinnati Fire Department needs resources: additional firefighters to staff the city's 26 firehouses and more than the current six fire specialists, who conduct safety inspections on properties.In an interview on The Enquirer's That's So Cincinnati podcast, Cincinnati firefighters union President Matt Alter outlined these concerns when asked whether his organization supports the affordable housing charter amendment known as Issue 3.The charter amendment, which will be on the May 4 ballot, calls for at least $50 million out of the city budget each year to be diverted to funding affordable housing. It could result in "dire consequences" for basic public services, such as fire safety, Alter said."We're basically treading water," Alter said. "We're basically wearing floaties, doing what we can to keep our head above water. This just raises the tide. We will be drowning in high seas."

John Sadak was starting to make plans for this day to never come in his career. But it's here. Opening Day in Cincinnati, and Sadak will make his major league debut as the lead play-by-play announcer for Reds television broadcasts. What will the moment be like for Sadak when the New York City native calls his first pitch at 4:10 p.m. Thursday on Fox Sports Ohio? Sadak has been trying hard not to get caught up in the moment after 15 years of calling minor league baseball games. "For me personally, it's a realization of a dream," Sadak told The Enquirer's That's So Cincinnati podcast. "But my job is to be a steward and an entertainer and facilitate our analysts and storytelling. Reds baseball is way bigger than me. I'm just the guy who's doing it now, and hopefully for many years."

That’s So Cincinnati: Holy Grail owner Jim Moehring talks 10-year at The Banks, the benefits of the new outdoor drinking district at The Banks and paying it forward after a Crosstown tip-off challenge windfall.

Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport is well positioned for "good things ahead" coming out of the pandemic, CEO Candace McGraw told The Enquirer's That's So Cincinnati podcast this week. The airport has already announced new low-cost flights flights coming this spring from Allegiant Air, Alaska Air and Sun Country Airlines, reflecting a renewed demand for leisure travel.As business travel gradually bounces back, McGraw said, CVG is planning to revisit the possibility of adding a new non-stop international flight to the airport's list of travel options.She also gives an update on Amazon Air's cargo hub.

Nearly six years ago the historic Supreme Court decision in Obergefell v. Hodges – the Obergefell being Cincinnati's own Jim Obergefell – made marriage equality the law in all 50 states.Obergefell and Cincinnati Civil Rights Attorney Al Gerhardstein, who represented Obergefell, are featured in an episode of the new Netflix documentary, Amend: The Fight for America.Hosted by actor Will Smith, the series focuses on the 14th Amendment being the hallmark of democracy. On it, Obergefell and Gerhardstein tell the story of how Cincinnati went from being one of the most gay-hostile cities in America to one of the most inclusive. They also tell Obergefell's love story. They told The Enquirer's That's So Cincinnati podcast this week, the fight for equality continues.

Melanie Bates isn't backing off her crusade to try to get Cincinnati Public Schools fully reopened this spring, despite criticism from the teachers' union and some parents. In fact, the veteran school member is speaking out even more about the need for students to return to the classroom five days a week after the district recently received proficiency test results. In an interview with The Enquirer's That's So Cincinnati podcast, Bates said students' proficiency results dropped 17% year over year. In fall 2019, 38% of students were at or above state proficiency, Bates said. But last fall those results dropped to 21%, and Bates attributes the drop off to schools being closed or mostly closed since the outset of the pandemic in March 2020."I have two grandchildren in Cincinnati Public Schools," said Bates, the longest-tenured member on the board. "I have a daughter who's a first-grade teacher in another public school district. In conversations, the difference between what that district is providing five days a week to their students and what we are, is just devastating.""Our children, in many, many cases, are a year behind," Bates added.

Cincinnati City Councilman Wendell Young has been in politics and public service his whole life, starting by walking his Avondale neighborhood with his dad, who was a Democratic Party precinct executive, when he was a child.On this week's That's So Cincinnati podcast Young talked about his childhood, his time on Cincinnati City Council, his rocky relationship with Mayor John Cranley and what he thinks about what's been called the a "culture of corruption" at City Hall.And, to the question, What's going on with the Gang of 5 investigation, Young said he knows only what everyone else does, just that "the investigating is ongoing."

First Amendment attorney Jack Greiner, who represents Cincinnati.com and The Enquirer, joins as special guest.

You may know Tricia Macke as the dean of Cincinnati evening news anchors. But Fox 19's lead anchor leads a busy life off the air. Macke has five children, runs a youth basketball organization and has a strict exercise regimen. And she somehow finds time to share about all of it on social media.Macke, in her 22nd year as Fox 19's lead anchor, joined The Enquirer's That's So Cincinnati podcast to talk about being with the station since Day 1 of its newscast in 1993; her coaching experiences and sharing her life on social media.

Sports broadcaster Thom Brennaman calculates that he's spoken nearly 190 million words on live television while calling football and basketball games during a 33-year career.And it was one derogatory and insensitive three-letter word that derailed his promising career and changed his life forever. The latter, the former Reds broadcaster says, has been for the better. Six months after using a homophobic slur on air during a Reds broadcast, Brennaman shares what he's learned and how he's grown in an in-depth chat with The Enquirer's That's So Cincinnati podcast.

Miss Ohio Caroline Grace Williams joins That's So Cincinnati podcast to talk about how she got interested in pageants while at Miami University; talking with Gov. Mike DeWine about improving 911 communications; teaching people how to use their smartphones in emergencies; and life in small-town Ohio. Also on this week's That's So Cincinnati episode, co-hosts Sharon Coolidge and Jason Williams discuss the 2022 race to succeed Greater Cincinnati Republican Rob Portman in the U.S. Senate.

New Hamilton County Sheriff Charmaine McGuffey really missed the department during her nearly four years out of uniform. The 33-year law enforcement veteran missed many of her old coworkers. She missed putting on the black-and-gold uniform each day. And she missed the jail inmates. Wait. What?Any doubt there's a new sheriff in town? Certainly the county's previous two sheriffs – Jim Neil and Si Leis – would've never said that.But McGuffey, who spent several years overseeing the county jail, has brought a fresh approach to the office – and that includes treating inmates with a balance of tough love and dignity. McGuffey – one of the first openly LGBTQ sheriff's in the U.S. and the first woman elected to the position in Hamilton County – explained her approach to the job during an in-depth discussion this week with The Enquirer's That's So Cincinnati podcast. "The bulk of my experience has been inside this jail," McGuffey said. "I walked in here in my early 20s. Unfortunately, some of the prisoners that I knew back then, I still know now. They're still coming back. The thing that worries me is: why?"McGuffey continued: "There are boundaries that you set as an officer. You are the authority. But in general, you get to know people. You get to know their circumstances, and you can certainly understand why they're where they are. And the other piece of this is: appreciate them. I appreciate their senses of humor. I appreciate their life experiences. So yeah, I missed the prisoners."McGuffey talked about criminal justice reform on the campaign last year, and the 62-year-old West Side native has wasted no time following through on that promise during her first month on the job. Case in point: She's investing in inmate care. And unlike some of her predecessors, McGuffey isn't going to complain constantly about jail overcrowding. Nor will she push for a new county jail. Here's what McGuffey said about improving inmates' lives in the jail: This county does not need a new jail. We can fix the one we have. We just need to get in there and do it. There's hard things to do. We need to find alternatives in the way of community corrections for low-level offenders. We're working on things like improving the food. Just today we created an addition to the policy for prisoners who are in medical and mental health units that they get good linens. I mean sheets and a blanket that's very clean (and) in good shape. Those are small things. But those are things that improve people's lives, and when they walk out the door, they're a lot less likely to re-offend when we get them healthy and whole again. It's treating people with dignity so that when they walk out of there they feel confident enough to seek help.To anyone who may criticize her approach as too soft, McGuffey said: I'm not pie-in-the-sky. I am very law and order. I'm very rooted in reality, I promise you that. The years in the jail, they make you know that reality is real. But I believe we can do so much better.I would say to those people, "Please remember, those inmates are getting out of jail. At some point in time, they will walk back into your neighborhood. And would you rather have them be more enlightened; perhaps have a different frame of mind; perhaps feel enfranchised enough to join the community and say, 'Hey I want to do well?' " The way to do that is build them that way. Not create a situation where all you're doing is punishing them day to day to day. You just can't do that with people and build up self-esteem. That's part of reform. Let's change the mindset.

Liz Keating grew up sitting at her grandparents' kitchen table listening to her Cincinnati-famous grandfather tell stories about his honorable career law, politics and journalism.She loved both fields, but saw her career someday going a different route.Nearly a year ago, however, Liz Keating had a change of heart and started thinking that she'd like to do a job the late Bill Keating once did – serve on Cincinnati City Council. Liz Keating didn't realize it'd happen this soon, but the 37-year-old Hyde Park Republican now finds herself as the newest member of council. She recently was appointed to fill another open seat after a rash of corruption-related arrests have reshaped the city's governing body over the past 10 months."I can sit around and complain about everything going on," Keating told The Enquirer's That's So Cincinnati podcast. "Or I can go be part of that change. And I decided ... I can't sit around and wait any longer."In a wide-ranging podcast interview, Keating talked about her evolution from wanting to do a behind-the-scenes job in government and politics to being a politician. And she told stories about her late grandfather and the impact he had on her life – from his legacy as a top competitive swimmer to his time in politics in the 1960s and 1970s as a congressman, councilman and local judge to a career as Enquirer publisher and Gannett newspaper executive in the 1980s and early 1990s. Keating's full podcast interview can be heard for free by clicking the link at the top of the article. That's So Cincinnati is also available for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio and other major listening platforms. Keating's interview begins at the 13:40 mark in the episode. Interest in City CouncilI was a political science major. I always wanted to go work behind the scenes (in politics and government). I am a policy nerd. It's a way you can impact change in the community. I am more of a quiet, shy person, so being out in the spotlight is not always my strength. I'm going to have to learn that now being a politician. My dream was always to go out in the business world, get real-world experience and then later on move behind the scenes. I've been watching, and there really haven't been a lot of candidates who have inspired me and my values match theirs to want to go work for. In the past year, as things have changed and opportunities have come up, I've started to look at myself in a different light and think, 'You know, maybe I should try to be that person to go put myself out there and run for office and try to make a change.' Focus on basic government servicesKeating says budget issues and basic services such as public safety and garbage collection will be her priorities. Her brother is a Cincinnati police officer, so Keating is familiar with the largest department in the city. Lets get back to the basics of what council is meant to do and serving the people. Stop getting distracted with all these silly fights, because it's not moving the needle on anything that actually has meaning to everybody else in the city. Passion for her hometownKeating went to UCLA, where she was co-captain of the swim team. It was never in question where she was going to live after college – Cincinnati. Some 25 of Bill Keating's 28 grand children live in Greater Cincinnati. When I left for college, I had to promise my dad that I'd move back home. So I fulfilled that promise. That's a very Cincinnati thing. The moment I stepped outside that 275 loop, I was all Cincinnati, all the way. Every person I ever met out in California knew that I was from Cincinnati and Cincinnati is the greatest city on earth. And still to this day, I have college teammates and friends, they don't call me Liz. They call me "Cincinnati." Talking journalism with grandpaKeating lived with her grandparents after moving home from Los Angeles. Her grandfather, who retired from his newspaper career in 1992, still read a half-dozen print newspaper each morning. Every morning, we'd sit there and read them and discuss. ... What was most important to him was the lead story and how that impacted the community and what was gong on in the minds of people around him. He always talked about how critical it was to have (journalists) follow politicians and have them follow the stories, especially the local news stories. What you guys do was so important to him. That really keeps a pulse on what's happening in the community.It also holds the politicians and the leaders accountable. He always thought that was so important.

Long-time Cincinnati weatherman Steve Raleigh can quickly recall the exact dates of the two biggest storms he's encountered in life. • March 2, 2012, when a rash of tornadoes killed more than 20 people across Southwest Ohio, Northern Kentucky and Southeast Indiana.• Jan. 17, 2019, when Raleigh's 24-year-old daughter, Madison, committed suicide after battling addiction and mental illness.As Raleigh still track's storms weekdays for WCPO-TV, he's also taken on another job – launching a nonprofit organization to help men and women struggling with addiction and mental illness. It's called Madi's House, located 5081 Glenncrossing Way. And Raleigh told The Enquirer's That's So Cincinnati podcast that there's big things coming as soon as the organization is working on expanding to reach more people in need. Raleigh, Channel 9's chief meteorologist since 2005, opened up about his daughter's struggles and the hope Madi's House is offering to those in need. Here's part of his interview on this week's That's So Cincinnati episode: Almost two years ago, my wife and I lost our daughter. She fought the battle of addiction and some mental health issues. It had been going on for quite a number of years, 10 to 12 years. Took her own life. At that point, my wife came out with a statement at the memorial service: "We are going to war against these two factions." As a family, we decided to set up something that would help. What I like to call a moment of clarity from my daughter was something that she said to us: "I just wish I had somewhere to hang out." There were times when she was ready to go forward, and she had nowhere to go. Quite frankly, she couldn't fall back to the people she had been with. She really couldn't find any new friends. There was a certain stigma associated with the problem she was having. And she was basically hanging out with my wife and I. That's no fun for a 24-year-old. Madi's House is really a recovery and mental health community center. There are some games, like video games. There's some art family. There's music. There's fitness. We also have AA and NA meetings. (Madi's House has been open) Friday, Saturday and Sunday since Thanksgiving. We feel very good about this going forward. We're hopefully going to be the model for other communities that can take this and move it into their city. We really are a place to create community, and that's what's not (been) happening. I'm not at liberty to say where we're going next, but I do believe shortly we're going to have an announcement to expand Madi's House in a really significant way. We'd like to make it more accessible for everybody. To learn more about Madi's House, go to madishousecincy.org.

Forget 2020. What lies ahead for Greater Cincinnati in the New Year?Regional political, business, legal and media leaders share their hopes for 2021 in That’s So Cincinnati’s annual New Year’s resolutions episode.

It's not easy answering tough questions. It's also not easy asking them. But veteran Cincinnati TV journalist Angenette Levy has made a name for herself by asking tough questions of Greater Cincinnati's public officials on the air over the past decade.Levy, who left Local 12 in September, joined That's So Cincinnati podcast this week to discuss: • Her approach to the journalism and how the Anderson Township native got into the news business• Reporting on a story that eventually became the subject of a popular Netflix true crime documentary• And what might be the next step in her career

Mayor John Cranley joins That's So Cincinnati podcast this week.

Cincinnati City Councilman Greg Landsman answers tough questions about his role in the Gang of Five texting scandal, embattled Councilman P.G. Sittenfeld and the state of affairs at City Hall. You won't want to miss this episode.

As a trial lawyer, former assistant prosecutor and ex-journalist, Steve Goodin might be the perfect fit for a seat on Cincinnati City Council at the moment.The Republican has a firm understanding of public accountability – something City Hall is sorely lacking in the wake of three council members being arrested this year on federal corruption charges.Goodin, newly appointed to council this week, has a clear vision for what he wants to do immediately after City Hall reopens later this month following a pandemic-related shutdown."The public really needs, wants and expects at least a roadmap as to how the remaining council members are going to address systemic corruption," Goodin told The Enquirer's That's So Cincinnati podcast. "The sooner we speak to that in an intelligent and comprehensive way, the better."Goodin on Monday was appointed as the temporary replacement for Republican Councilman Jeff Pastor, who's suspended pending the outcome of his court case stemming from federal pay-to-play charges.In the wide-ranging interview, Goodin discusses how he believes his diverse career experiences have prepared him for the challenge of being on council. The 51-year-old father of three started his career as a news reporter for the News-Sun in Springfield, Ohio, his hometown. He's also served stints in the Peace Corps and Army.Several members of council do not have jobs and careers outside of City Hall, and Goodin believes that's led to a loss of perspective. On his decision to join the Peace Corps early in his career, Goodin said: "I just had a real desire to travel and do something radically different. So I went over to Africa and (was in) the Sahara Desert for a year. I worked as something called a 'sanitation engineer,' which meant I was digging outhouses. It was a fascinating experience. It expanded my horizons."In his work for Graydon Law Firm, where he's a partner, Goodin has focused on business litigation and municipal law. The latter has made him quite familiar with City Hall, where he's been hired to help fix the city's pension fund. It's helped him to have intimate knowledge of the city's charter, but the experience also has given Goodin insight into council's problems."I've been sort of alarmed by the lack of fiscal literacy," Goodin said. "There needs to be a better stewardship of these funds. There needs to be better stewardship of our infrastructure, and we need people to, frankly, be more adult about this and to manage this like you would your personal finances, like you would your personal business and like you would your safety and the safety of your children."Goodin recalled times testifying in front of council while some of its members were interested in what was happening on their phones and laptops."I have always been, particularly in the last few years, distressed by just the raw political gamesmanship that you see," Goodin said. "I've got teenage girls. I spend a lot of my time yelling at them to put their phones down when they're at the dinner table. Sometimes, I'd be testifying at council and people are playing on their phones. There needs to be a different, more adult approach to this job."Goodin doesn't have a Twitter or Facebook account, something he's not needed as a litigator. He said he plans create social media accounts to provide information to the public, but he doesn't care about the petty and uncivil Twitter fights that have distracted this council at times."All the social media, particularly among some of the council members, has not been helpful," Goodin said. "It leads to this posturing. It leads to these false presentations of who folks are. It leads to people playing to small groups of people and not thinking about the city as a whole. It becomes sort of a weird echo chamber. My sense is, by and large, it's the same 200 or 300 people who are on Twitter weighing in over and over and over. I don't think that reflects the folks that I'm concerned about."So what is Goodin's concern?"We need to really get back to addressing the basic services, the public safety issues that our neighborhoods are seeing," he said. "It makes me kind of sick that those concerns have been pushed aside for people who are shaking-down developers. It's an absolute shame. There are folks who are depending on the government to provide services, to provide safe streets and that's been lost. The fact that that's not a priority –and now of all times (amid the pandemic) – is simply a disgusting state of affairs."Goodin plans to work on a comprehensive package of charter amendment reforms centered on more transparency around economic development deals and increased accountability for council members. He said he's not interested in small, piecemeal changes or creating bureaucratic commissions and task forces – something some of his colleagues want."We know what generally needs to be done," Goodin said. "If we need a special ethics officer to convince people not to take bribes, then we have a bigger problem than

Cincinnati Vice Mayor Christopher Smitherman has been speaking out against some of his council colleagues' illegal and unethical behavior for years. It's time others join him, Smitherman told The Enquirer's That's So Cincinnati podcast. Especially since he believes federal investigators aren't done rooting out corruption at City Hall in the wake of three city council members being arrested on pay-to-play charges this year.Smitherman recently called Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine to ask the Republican to consider overhauling state agencies that are supposed to be in charge of holding public officials accountable. "We've had some state organizations, one being the Ohio Ethics Commission, that failed here," Smitherman said. "I think his office needs to take a real hard look at the state agencies that are charged with looking at public bodies across the state of Ohio. The ethics commission says, 'We're not a proactive body. We sit back and wait for the complaint.' "Smitherman continued: "What proactive steps could the Ohio Ethics Commission (take) knowing about what was happening in Cincinnati? It seems to me that the Ohio Ethics Commission somewhere through this process over the last three years would've intervened, and they didn't. What could they do better?"

In the year David DeVillers has spent on the job as the region's top federal attorney, the Ohio Speaker of the House and two Cincinnati City Councilmembers have been arrested in pay-to-play schemes.And he didn't shut the door on the possibility there could be more corruption-related arrests coming at City Hall.The rash of arrests are a reflection of DeVillers making it a top priority to crack down on public corruption immediately after the Trump appointee took over as the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Ohio in November 2019."I really think we did a disservice by not being aggressive," DeVillers told The Enquirer's That's So Cincinnati podcast. "The idea of taking shots is what we need to do in cases like that. We do it in murder cases. We do it in drug cases. We should do it in public corruption cases."

Hamilton County Republican Party Chairman Alex Triantafilou watched election night as a blue wave swept in, taking with it two county elected leaders – treasurer and recorder – and nine judgeships.The latter flipped both the common pleas and appellate courts to a Democrat majority – something that was unthinkable a decade ago for the once-dominant Hamilton County GOP. Those losses have some local Republicans quietly grumbling about the need for new party leadership. Triantafilou addressed his and the party's future on The Enquirer's That's So Cincinnati podcast."If you go around the state of Ohio, (Republican leaders) think we do a terrific job here and we do," Triantafilou said. "We have a great staff. We have great volunteers. We have great donors. I understand I'm on the hot seat. I'll take the heat as it comes. I know my business. I know what it takes to win. I also know the challenges associated with winning in a blue county. What's the future for me? I'm staying."Triantafilou, who's led the party since 2008, welcomes the challenge of recruiting a new wave of GOP candidates. "My focus is really going to be on finding candidates who have the appeal across the political spectrum," Triantafilou said. "That's going to take some infighting within my party as we push to get candidates who don't always toe the party line."He added: "I want to unite the party, so I end up taking a fair amount of arrows to do that. But I'm going to start speaking out a little bit stronger about the people who aren't working with us."Triantafilou's interview begins at the 21:45 mark in the episode, which can be listened to for free by clicking the link at the top of the article. That's So Cincinnati also is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and other major listening platforms. Other takeaways from Triantafilou's interview:• With Prosecutor Joe Deters' reelection on Tuesday, Republicans were able to hold onto the most powerful seat in local government. Speculation has already started about whether Deters, the longest-tenured prosecutor in county history, will finish out his next term."As I told Joe, he needs to stay healthy and run again in four years because he gives us our best chance to hold that seat," Triantafilou said. "He's been a great candidate and a terrific prosecutor. He hasn't committed to running in 2024, let me make sure that's clear." • On former Cincinnati City Councilwoman Amy Murray, who left in February to take a job in Washington with the Trump administration, Triantafilou said he expects Murray will return to Cincinnati if the president loses to Joe Biden.Murray considered running in Ohio's 1st Congressional District, but decided not to challenge Steve Chabot in the Republican primary. Will she look to run for office locally again? "When you're the coach trying to put players on the field, I'm dying to get Amy Murray. She's a five-tool player, so to speak in baseball parlance," Triantafilou said. "She's got everything you want in a candidate. She's brilliant, a great legislator, a great government official. She's a good fundraiser. I would love to see Amy Murray return to the local political scene, but I have no idea what her next step is going to be."

How many outstanding absentee ballots will still need to be counted on Election Night? What time will results be released? And how do you become Ohio's top elections official? Secretary of State Frank LaRose answered these questions and more on The Enquirer's That's So Cincinnati podcast. Listen to the full episode for free by clicking the link at the top of the article. That's So Cincinnati can also be found on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio and other major listening platforms. LaRose's interview begins at the 9:20 mark in this week's episode.Here are some snippets from the discussion: Highlighting outstanding absentee ballots New this year. We're going to actually highlight the number of outstanding absentee ballots (with Election Night results on the Secretary of State's website). This office has always tracked that number. We're going to put it right at the top of the site, and here's why that matters: If your favorite candidate is ahead by a million votes and there's only 200,000 outstanding absentee ballots, then you can look at that and say this is conclusive. But likewise, if your favorite candidate is only ahead by 100,000 and there are yet 200,000 outstanding absentee ballots, then that contest is not over. It's important that we have transparency so people know on Election Night whether they're looking at a conclusive result or not. When to expect results on Election NightIt's up to the voters. If Ohio voters wait to send in their absentee ballots, then it will cause counting to take longer on Tuesday, Nov. 3. We know based on (this past Tuesday's numbers) there are still over 800,000 outstanding absentee ballots that are sitting on people's kitchen tables or the dashboard of their car.If tens of thousands of people return their absentee ballots on Saturday or on Monday, what's going to result is a big avalanche of mail arriving on Tuesday that the Board of Elections is going to have to process. That's where it could take longer. But if that doesn't happen, we'll be one of the earlier states (to report results), I really believe. Ohio begins processing our absentee ballots as soon as they arrive. So on Election Night at 7:30, those ballots are ready to count and they count them right away. When you (see results) at 8 or 8:15, those are absentee votes. Contrast that to states like Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin. In those states, they can't even slice open the envelopes until election day. Imagine a big place like Wayne County, Michigan, Detroit, they have a vault at their board of elections that has to have hundreds and hundreds of thousands of envelopes in it right now that they can't touch until election day. It could be Friday or Saturday before Michigan has results. What keeps him up at nightThe thing I'm perhaps most concerned about at this point is false information and it comes a whole variety of different sources. It's just the old fashioned rumor mill, it's internet trolls, it's foreign adversaries. We're working hard to make sure that we're getting accurate information out there. We're debunking myths and rumors, shooting down the latest fantasies that people have invented about elections.

It's the offseason, and Reds President Phil Castellini has some time to reflect.In a candid, hourlong discussion on The Enquirer's That's So Cincinnati podcast, Castellini covered a wide range of topics, including: • His strong bond with his father, Reds owner Bob Castellini, and their passion for Cincinnati sports• Lessons from working for his father's companies since he was a teenager, when he started as a laborer in the produce distribution and warehouse businesses• Thom Brennaman's future, and why Phil Castellini believes the broadcaster will be back in the TV booth someday• The pandemic's likely impact on Opening Day 2021Here are some snippets from Phil Castellini's interview: Father-son bonding Growing up in Glendale ... late grade school into high school. We had season tickets to the Reds and Bengals and at the time, we were also involved (as part-owners) in the Cincinnati Stingers, the hockey team. We went to every Stinger home game. I got to go to the two Bengals Super Bowls. I went to the ice bowl, you know that famous deep-chill freezer playoff game against the Chargers. A lot of going to games with dad, especially on the football front. We had a special connection through all of our sports teams. 'Work as hard as he did'Before I had a driver's license, I rode a moped from Glendale to Lockland to cut cabbage at our salad processing plant. And when I was old enough to drive, I would drive downtown to work on the docks of the produce company. At this time of year, I would be doing Christmas trees from October to December. All the way through college, I worked for the family businesses. Dad worked seven days a week, 12 hours a day. The only thing that you thought about if you were Bob Castellini's family is you were going to work as hard as he did. If you're raised in the executive office and you always live in the executive office and you never went down to the production floor, you have a hard time relating to that whole spectrum. That is the biggest benefit of working in and up through any company, whether it's a family company or not. That perspective is really important later in one's career if you continue to manage people and processes. Buying the Reds in 2006Dad sees an article in the paper that the final three bidders on the team, none of the groups are from Cincinnati. He's like, "Wait a second. We can't have somebody buy the Reds that's not from Cincinnati." If you remember back in '05, there's still talk of you can pick up a team and move them somewhere. That's certainly something we never wanted to see happen. He gets a hold of Tom and Joe Williams and says, "Hey guys, what do you think about putting in a bid for the team?" He saw Mr. (Carl) Lindner at a game that August and said, "What would you think if we threw our hat in the ring quickly?" He said, "That's great, but the final bids are due in the next two weeks and everybody else has been doing their homework since March." So we asked for a two-week extension, which was granted. We wound up doing all the research and getting a handshake to buy the team in 30 days. It was a pretty wild ride. Watching a Reds game with his dadSometimes by the third inning, you don't want to be anywhere near dad depending on how the game's going. Every pitch, every out, every at-bat, it is an emotional roller coaster. You could not have anybody more dialed in than he is. We keep trying to tell him, 'It's a long season, relax.' But that's just the way he is in life and business. That's his DNA. I don't think it's that great for his health, but that's the way the guy is wired. It's a great passion. Thom Brennaman's futureBrennaman last month resigned from Reds' TV play-by-play job following a suspension for using a homophobic slur on air.He's as good as anybody in the business, in my opinion. It was just an all around tragic situation. It's something that shouldn't be thought, much less said out loud. Thom knows that. We all know that. In today's day and age, there's a zero tolerance approach to that. That's just not something you have associated with your organization. He knew exactly what the organization had to do and why. We were at the end of a contract year. That's when he came to us and said, "I think I need to move on and repair my own damage done." He's done a ton of that and is making a lot of great relationships. He's certainly had an eye-opening, soul-searching experience of his own. You will see Thom back in a broadcast booth.Likely not (with the Reds). I just mean as a broadcaster because the guy can do any sport. He's got that kind of talent. I think it'll do him well to have some time off. But yeah, I absolutely expect that we will all see Thom somewhere again as a broadcaster of live sports. The Brennamans have been such an amazing part of the Reds history. We'll be inducting his dad (Marty) into the Reds Hall of Fame next year. You'll definitely see Thom be a part of that ceremony. Hoping for some fans at Opening DayThis thing's going to

Fresh off attending Joe Biden's visit to Union Terminal, That's So Cincinnati co-hosts Sharon Coolidge and Jason Williams break down the Democratic presidential nominee's campaign stop and what it could mean in Ohio.And listeners get to meet Keith Pandolfi, The Enquirer's new food and dining writer. The biggest question for Keith, of course, is what's his take on Cincinnati-style chili? Find out on That's So Cincinnati.

Is the 2020 election when the Republicans lose all their remaining power in Hamilton County? It was a big topic of discussion on The Enquirer's That's So Cincinnati podcast election preview episode. University of Cincinnati political science professor David Niven breaks down the ticket in Hamilton County from Biden-Trump to Republican Joe Deters' chances of holding the prosecutor's seat to former Cincinnati Councilman Charlie Winburn's race for county treasurer.The once-dominate Hamilton County GOP has been losing seats for more than a decade. The prosecutor's office is the most powerful local government seat in Southwest Ohio, and Republicans have gone all in on trying to get Deters re-elected. If the GOP loses the seat, it loses control of an office that's been a decadeslong farm system for judicial candidates. "I think the scope of Biden's likely win in Hamilton County puts the Republican Party in grave jeopardy," said Niven, a one-time aide to former Democratic Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland. "We could very easily be looking at a clean sweep for Democrats in Hamilton County regardless of the Deters name and history."Niven's interview begins at the 6:40 mark in the episode.

Lincoln Ware has been on the air in Cincinnati for nearly a half century, known to his listeners as a trusted voice who gives them a chance to have theirs heard. "I've been on the air longer than any African American in the history of Cincinnati radio," said Ware, who hosts the Lincoln Ware Show 10 a.m.-12 p.m. weekdays on 101.5 FM The Buzz. Ware joined The Enquirer's That's So Cincinnati podcast to do what he does best – speak honestly about Cincinnati politics, issues affecting Black citizens and the state of race relations. A Marine veteran, Ware also talked about how being a disc jockey on an aircraft carrier helped launch his radio career back home in Cincinnati. He started as a DJ with WCIN-AM in 1973, eventually moving into a talk show host role in the early 1990s. His time on the air has afforded him an institutional knowledge of Cincinnati that few others currently working in local media have.That includes a perspective on how Cincinnati's race relations have evolved. Here's what Ware told That's So Cincinnati when asked about the state of race relations in Cincinnati today: I think we've come a long way, but we still have a long way to go. Even in the police department. When (former Chief Tom) Streicher was around, he ran that police department with a heavy hand. You'd hear that they'd discipline Black police officers more harshly than they would white police officers. You look at the gentrification that 3CDC is always accused of, but I think they're making progress. I like what they're doing down in Over-the-Rhine.But people are still claiming that this is one of the most racist towns that they've been in. There's two Cincinnatis. The Urban League said one Black, one white. I kind of believe that. I've been in this broadcast business for 47 years. I'm not saying people should know me, but there's some white folks in this town, they never listen to Black radio. You might mention (101.5 FM) The Wiz to them, they don't know what you're talking about. They never venture into the world of the African American. But African Americans will venture into their world. People know Bill Cunningham. They know Jim Scott. The white community doesn't seem to embrace the Black community like the Black community embraces the white community. So Cincinnati has a long way to go. Here's a look at some other topics Ware discussed in a wide-ranging podcast interview: On retirement: "I might hang around another few years. In 2023, it'll be 50 years for me. I might make 50 years and then pack it in."On hosting a call-in show: "Everybody wants to vent, and that's why people like my show a lot. I let them get it off their chest. They want their voices heard." On standing up for Black leaders: "A lot of these companies and organizations, when they hire a Black person, it's normally from outside of Cincinnati. My theory on this is they bring people in from outside Cincinnati so when they get ready to fire them, they don't have a whole of friends to stand up for them. ... I hate to see that happen to Black leaders."

Did Fiona actually miss seeing zoo visitors during the coronavirus shutdown? How did the Cincinnati Zoo team break Ndume of a chewing gum habit? And what's a long-time zookeeper think about "Tiger King?"Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Gardens Director Thane Maynard had the answers in a wide-ranging and engaging interview on The Enquirer's That's So Cincinnati podcast this week.

The leader of Cincinnati-based Ohio Innocence Project said in 2011 then-state Attorney General Mike DeWine rejected a request to do a statewide review of cases involving prisoners who claimed to be wrongfully convicted.But DeWine, now Ohio governor, didn't turn down the offer because he disagreed with the premise of helping people who are wrongfully convicted, his spokesman told The Enquirer. Local, state and federal government bureaucracies made such a review challenging, DeWine spokesman Dan Tierney said.Ohio Innocence Project co-founder Mark Godsey recalled his meeting with then-AG DeWine during an interview with The Enquirer's That's So Cincinnati podcast. Godsey's organization works to help free prisoners who were wrongfully convicted by using DNA evidence. Godsey, a former federal prosecutor in New York, said one of his biggest challenges is persuading government officials to have an open mind about revisiting old cases."It's not the money. It's ... not wanting to be proven wrong," Godsey said. "The person who was DeWine's assistant in that meeting – I can't remember the person's name – was very much of the mentality like I was when I was a prosecutor. I remember him saying, 'This is ridiculous. There's not going to be any innocent people (based on DNA database information).' It's more like they were in that fog of denial like I used to be in."DeWine and his team have always had a good working relationship with the Ohio Innocence Project and support the group's mission, Tierney said."This was not a policy disagreement. This was a logistical issue," said Tierney, who was also with DeWine in the AG's office. "There was concern that state and federal laws would prohibit the lab from (reviewing old cases). It certainly makes a lot of sense for the local municipalities like Cincinnati to do this on a jurisdiction-by-jurisdiction basis. We understand attractiveness of one-stop shop. But in a home-rule state like Ohio, there is not a lot of one-stop shops. The governor is a longtime prosecutor. He certainly believes cases should go where the evidence shows."Godsey's comments come as the city of Cincinnati police has agreed to review certain homicide cases for the past nine years as part of a $100,000 settlement in a murder case where the department didn't share DNA evidence that pointed to someone else. The Ohio Innocence Project, based at University of Cincinnati, has used DNA evidence to help free 30 wrongfully convicted people since Godsey and John Cranley founded the organization 17 years ago. Godsey, a UC law professor, detailed some of the Ohio Innocence Project's cases in his book, "Blind Injustice," released last year. The Ohio Innocence Project has gained more momentum with political and government leaders as social justice advocates have gained more attention in recent years. "There's still a way to go, but definitely the environment and the culture is different than it was when we started in 2003," Godsey said. In the past "when I said, 'We're looking at cases of someone who could be innocent,' I got looked at like I had two heads. Now it's accepted and understood." Godsey has remained close with Cranley, now in his second term as Cincinnati mayor. "People think of John as the mayor and a politician, but I got to see him as a young attorney in court," Godsey said. "He won some of our cases and freed innocent people. He could've had a heck of a career as a trial lawyer."

FC Cincinnati play-by-play voice Tom Gelehrter talks about the making of a new documentary about the team, his summer at broadcasting school and starting his own company. Gelehrter's company, 4th Floor Creative, produced "Nonstop Flight: The Untold Story of FC Cincinnati," which debuted this week. Enquirer Director of Photography Cara Owsley also joins That's So Cincinnati to take listeners onto the front lines of what it's like to capture photos and video of the big news stories of 2020.

One of Greater Cincinnati's leading influencers in the LGBTQ community wants to give embattled Reds broadcaster Thom Brennaman a chance to redeem himself.And there's no better place for Brennaman to do that than the television booth, community leader Ryan Messer told The Enquirer's That's So Cincinnati podcast."I don't think he should be fired," said Messer, vice president of the Cincinnati Public Schools board and co-founder of Greater Cincinnati's Human Rights Campaign. "There's good that can come out of this. The people who can make the most change are the people who have changed the most."Brennaman was suspended indefinitely by the Reds after he used a homophobic slur on air last month. He has apologized and been meeting with LGBTQ people in order to "start improving my understanding of LGBTQ+ issues," Brennaman wrote in an Enquirer op-ed.Messer, who is openly gay, and Brennaman are scheduled to meet at Messer's home in North Avondale next week."I am very grateful for the chance to listen and learn," Brennaman told The Enquirer in a text message on Wednesday, his first media comments since the Aug. 20 op-ed on Cincinnati.com. "I hurt a lot of people, and there will be good that comes from this. We, my family and I, are completely committed to that."In his own Enquirer op-ed last month, Messer said Brennaman's "use of the slur wasn’t a mistake." But Messer, a regional executive for Johnson & Johnson, has been encouraged by the steps Brennaman has taken since the broadcaster made what he now calls a "hateful" comment during the Reds-Kansas City Royals broadcast on Aug. 19."My goal is to say, 'Well, how can this turn into a learning opportunity for him and for others?' " Messer said on That's So Cincinnati. "I think you always have to start with grace in every situation."

The election is all about suburban women voters. You've inevitably heard that many times in 2020. Ohio GOP Chairwoman Jane Timken joined The Enquirer's That's So Cincinnati podcast to discuss the battle for suburban women voters and whether Trump's message of safety amid nationwide protesting is working with that voting bloc. "I am that demographic," said Timken, 53, who grew up in Cincinnati and now lives in the suburbs of the Canton-Akron region. "You’re watching on TV what’s happening in Minnesota ... Portland ... Wisconsin. I personally think it’s freighting. I’ve talked to others who think it is as well. The Democrats refuse to condemn it. I do think (Trump's message is) resonating."Timken also offers her thoughts on the Republican National Convention, Nick Sandmann's RNC speech and the media on this week's That's So Cincinnati. Click the Audioboom link at the top of this article to listen for free. Or subscribe and listen for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and other major listening platforms. The Timken interview begins at the 15:45 mark in the episode.

Cincinnati's Greg Hartmann is among a handful of Republicans who can vouch for how costly it can be to publicly criticize Donald Trump.Hartmann made national headlines in late 2015, when the then-Hamilton County commissioner called Trump "the most offensive public figure I've seen." The comments ended up costing Hartmann a White House-appointed federal prosecutor's job.Back in the local political spotlight to lead the GOP's campaign to kill a potential ballot initiative to disband the Cincinnati Police, Hartmann this week reflected on his criticism of Trump and opened up about his current feelings about the president in a wide-ranging interview on The Enquirer's That's So Cincinnati podcast.Hartmann continues to have mixed feelings about Trump, but the local GOP influencer isn't bitter about the White House stringing him along for nearly two years on the federal prosecutor appointment. Hartmann ultimately withdrew his name from being considered for U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio in December 2018."I don't love the way the president handles things," Hartmann told That's So Cincinnati. "I like the fact that he's significantly cut regulations and taxes, so I support a lot of the policies. I don't support a lot of the meanness and divisive approach that he's taken."Asked specifically if he'll support Trump in November, Hartmann added: "Sure. He's our candidate. He doesn't do a lot of things the way that I would do them, (but) the alternative is not very impressive."

Ohio Rep. Brigid Kelly joins The Enquirer's That's So Cincinnati podcast to discuss the Larry Householder scandal; the dangers of dark money in politics; how the House moves forward; and what Hamilton County office she may run for in the future. The Hyde Park Democrat says she's concerned the alleged $60 million Statehouse bribery scandal against the now-former House Speaker could deter "good people" from running for elected office and get involved in politics and government.The Kelly interview begins at the 13:30 mark in the episode.

Former Cincinnati Mayor Charlie Luken has emerged as a leading critic on the city and county's embattled riverfront development project, also known as The Banks. And the former Congressman and local TV anchor didn't hold back in his criticism of The Banks on That's So Cincinnati this week, calling for new leadership on the project. Luken is a member of the city-county Joint Banks Steering Committee, which is supposed to provide oversight and decision-making power on the project. But the committee rarely meets. Here's just a sampling of what Luken said on That's So Cincinnati:"We've lost our way," Luken said of the committee. "And I think we've lost our way for so long that we have ceased to be effective. I do not believe that group can be repaired. There needs to be a new approach, and that falls to the elected people to lead on. I hope that they do. I don’t think it’s going to change much as long as (county attorney) Tom Gabelman and (Reds owner Bob) Castellini view this as their little project. As long as that happens, I see more fighting and more difficulty in the future."