That's So Cincinnati

Cincinnati Attorney Chris Finney talks about his challenges of going against energy company-led efforts to reject a ballot initiative last year on Larry Householder's House Bill 6. Finney also discusses his legal battles against Gov. Mike DeWine's coronavirus-related orders. Also this week: Co-hosts Jason Williams and Sharon Coolidge breakdown the scandal in Columbus and discuss a leisure trip on the Ohio River.

On this week's episode:-- New Cincinnati City Manager Paula Boggs Muething talks about her personal and professional journey.-- What's up with the under-the-radar Hamilton County parks levy-- Taking the stairs at Eden Park

It's been four years since Cincinnati Parks leaders announced that the long-awaited riverfront marina was finally going to be built.Nothing has happened since, though. What happened? New Cincinnati Parks Director Kara Kish told The Enquirer's That's So Cincinnati Podcast that the Parks Board earlier this year requested and got an extension until 2023 for the $1.5 million state grant being used to help get the project going. "I am optimistic about (the marina)," Kish said. "I think it's in the future of the city."Learn more about Kish, the parks and the marina plan on this week's episode. Also this week: Co-hosts Jason Williams and Sharon Coolidge breakdown the 2021 Cincinnati mayor's race in the wake of P.G. Sittenfeld's official campaign launch.

The burden of paying for future maintenance and upgrades to Paul Brown Stadium continues to loom large for Hamilton County taxpayers. As the bill is coming due in a few years on deferred costs, Republican commissioner candidate Andy Black is proposing a solution: Sell the stadium. It's not a new idea, but Black is well-intentioned and has gathered a team of experts to work on a plan. The former Mariemont vice mayor talks in-depth about his idea on That's So Cincinnati. Black's interview begins at the 13:40 mark in the episode.Also this week: -- What the mask-wearing mandate means in Cincinnati-- Adventures in kayaking around Greater Cincinnati

Dusty Rhodes says Democrats can censure him "until the cows come home," but the long-time Hamilton County auditor isn't going to apologize for his recent tweet asking why Black Lives Matter isn't also focusing on children lost to abortions and shootings.Instead, Rhodes is doubling down on his comments and hopes it drives a conversation about emphasizing that "all black lives matter," he told The Enquirer's That's So Cincinnati podcast his week. A anti-abortion Catholic and conservative-leaning Democrat, Rhodes said:"This whole Black Lives Matter thing has gotten in my craw real good. I appreciate the sentiment, but not the organization, which is a Marxist outfit hellbent on destroying our country as it stands right now. ..."They're killing more black babies in abortions than white as a ratio. And I think those black lives matter just as much as the three little kids who were killed (by gun violence) in Chicago this weekend. And nobody's talking about that. ... "Black lives matter in the womb as well as in life outside the womb. I think it's a valid point and it ought to be discussed."To listen to the full podcast episode for free, click the Audioboom link at the top of the article. That's So Cincinnati can also be found for free on most podcast listening platforms, including Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Rhodes' interview begins at the 13:50 mark in the episode.Rhodes enraged some members of the Hamilton County Democratic Party on June 19, when he tweeted: "Just wondering when they are going to paint 'Black Lives Matter' on Auburn Avenue, you know, in front of that building where they terminate black lives and white ones, too, almost every day of the week."Planned Parenthood, the city's only abortion clinic, is located on Auburn Avenue in Mount Auburn. Democratic Party Chairwoman Gwen McFarlin issued a statement three days later calling Rhodes' tweet "racist" and sexist," adding that she would begin the process of censuring the 30-year county auditor. Rhodes said McFarlin contacted him before she released the statement. He called McFarlin a "good person" whom he's known for 30 years, but she caved to the party's progressives."I like Gwen personally, but she couldn't stand up to them and she buckled," Rhodes said.Former local party chairman "Tim Burke would have never allowed this to happen," Rhodes said. "Tim Burke believed in a big tent and brought us all together. His only thing was do your job well and don't reflect badly on the party. That's what I've done consistently. I've never brought scandal to the party, and they can't say that about some of their favorites in City Hall."Rhodes said he'll continue to criticize Black Lives Matter for pushing a narrowly focused political agenda and ignoring taking up the cause of the importance of all Black lives. "I'm going to say what I think, because I'm not going to let the party do my thinking for me," Rhodes said. "It's a horrible thing (George Floyd's death). But to use that as an excuse to destroy buildings and blocks and take over cities and everything else, I think that's a bridge too far. But everybody (politicians and media) is scared to say it. I can't believe it. They're hiding under their desks. It's time to step up." Rhodes was first elected auditor in 1990, and he's always consistently held pro-life views. He's also been outspoken about those beliefs, often tweeting about it. Rhodes was asked if he thought the party issued the public rebuke now to put pressure on him to retire."I'm not going to hide my opinion under a bushel basket," Rhodes said. "I've been pro-life from the start. They knew I was pro-life when I first ran for Delhi trustee. I was pro-life when they asked me to run for auditor. I was pro-life when they endorsed me two years ago. To expect that I'm going to keep quiet about that (is) ridiculous."He added: "The Democratic Party is not going to save my soul. My church comes before my party and that's the way I am."Rhodes, 80, reiterated that he'd already been thinking about retiring after his term expires in 2022. If he does decide to run again, however, Rhodes didn't definitively say whether he'd remain loyal to the Democrats or switch parties. "I'd rather fight than switch," Rhodes said.

It's moments like this in our history when a journalist's experience, perspective and credibility are critical for viewers and readers. WLWT-TV anchor and reporter Courtis Fuller has been a trusted voice for Greater Cincinnati for nearly four decades, and his institutional knowledge really pays off in major news events like the recent racial inequality protests. He was on the streets covering the protests the past few weeks, just like he was in 2001 during the civil unrest in Cincinnati. And even then, Fuller had experience covering such an event, having started his career as a radio reporter in Milwaukee in the early 1980s.In a wide-ranging interview with The Enquirer's That's So Cincinnati podcast this week, Fuller recalled covering protests in Milwaukee after 22-year-old Earnest Lacy died while in police custody."He died because a police officer put his knee on the back of his neck," Fuller said. "That's 1981. Up until now, it was the largest protest I had seen. People flooded the streets." The experience of covering "that is something I've carried with me over the years." Fuller detailed the process of him going from covering the 2001 civil unrest for Channel 5 to running for mayor against Charlie Luken later that year."I'm doing great in my career," Fuller recalled. "I was the main anchor. I had just gotten married. Life is going pretty good."He added: "I just didn't feel like I was doing enough personally." Fuller won the primary, but lost in the general election. Will he consider running for mayor again in 2021?Local political watchers have been wondering whether an African American candidate will get into the race against David Mann and P.G. Sittenfeld, who hasn't officially announced yet. Fuller has been mentioned as a potential candidate.Fuller said "it's not something on the radar," but the Pittsburgh native didn't completely rule out the possibility of running again."It's an interesting question," Fuller said. "I love David Mann. I love P.G. I think they are good servants for the city. David knows the ends and outs of this town as well as anyone and is committed to all communities. Both of them are very, very good candidates. But you do wonder if now is that time. It was the same way in 2001. I believe that there probably will be an African American candidate that emerges."Also on That's So Cincinnati, Fuller discussed the progress of the Cincinnati police department over the past 19 years and how he views the idea of "defund the police." On the police progress:"Fortunately for our department, when you step back and try to be as objective as possible, we are doing an amazing job compared to where we were in 2001. And when I hear what other departments are doing, I think, wow, Cincinnati really has made tremendous strides, thanks to the Collaborative Agreement. Could more be done? Oh, absolutely. I think the chief is sincere and folks working in the department are sincere that they want to be the best department they can be. They're willing to listen; willing to work with the community."On "defund the police:""As soon as I heard the term 'defund' floated, you immediately think that's probably not the best choice of words to use. I believe people want reform. But to use the term 'defund,' that just shifts the conversation to ... are you going to get rid of the police department? I don't believe that is the overall goal. I do believe people want changes. And they want things very similar to what we've attempted to do here in Cincinnati."

It'd be hard to find a law enforcement officer anywhere who understands police-community relations better than Cincinnati assistant police chief Paul Neudigate.The 30-year policeman last week climbed over a barrier during a racial equality protest and took the opportunity to talk with and listen to peaceful protesters. And he quickly realized: There's work to be done to bridge the relationship between police officers and a younger generation of Cincinnatians. What protesters were saying "it hurt a little bit," Neudigate told The Enquirer's That's So Cincinnati podcast, because the police department has greatly improved its relationship with the community since the 2001 riots."We have always said we have to work on our relationships with the community every single day," Neudigate said. "We had thought that we were getting close. That if something bad went down, the community knew that we're a new police department. We were much more responsive. We were much more transparent. We were much more engaging. And I think what we saw is we're just not there yet."Neudigate on June 2 crossed a barrier and began having conversations with protesters, a moment captured on video. He exchanged phone numbers with some of the protesters and has remained in touch with some of them, helping to answer their questions.He's been a leader in helping the department improve its relationships and reputation in neighborhoods across the city. It was part of the Collaborative Agreement that came out of the 2001 unrest, and Cincinnati police have been nationally recognized for its relationships in the community. But Neudigate acknowledged that many younger citizens don't remember what happened 19 years ago, and some weren't born yet. The department needs to improve its public relations efforts, said Neudigate, who does a good job sharing news and positive stories on his Twitter feed. "What I'm finding out from those conversations is a lot of the things that (protesters) want, a lot of the things that they think that we should be doing, we're already doing," Neudigate said. "We're just not doing a good enough job of making sure that the community is aware of all the different pieces that we've got moving."Neudigate's podcast interview offers candid insight into the Cincinnati police, including how the department's response compared to 2001.Neudigate's interview begins at the 21:15 mark in the episode.

Cincinnati chef and restaurateur Jose Salazar chuckles about a conversation he had with his wife in early March. "Everything was just starting to click," Jose Salazar said about his three restaurants, the most popular being Salazar in Over-the-Rhine. "My wife about two weeks before the shutdown said, 'I feel great. I feel like for the first time in years I'm not worried whether I'm going to make payroll next week.' "Some 10 weeks later, Jose Salazar is fighting to stay in business.He talks in-depth about the challenges of reopening Salazar, Goose & Elder at Findlay Market and Mita's in Downtown on The Enquirer's That's So Cincinnati podcast.Salazar also worries about his peers as the restaurant industry tries to recover from the two-month pandemic shutdown. He has been part of Over-the-Rhine's renaissance in the past decade, and he worries what this pandemic will do to all the small businesses who've gone all in on the neighborhood. "God, if all these restaurants don't survive, what's it going to look like again? It'd be hard to imagine it going back to a bunch of boarded up storefronts again. But I don't know. It's kind of scary. It's kind of scary to think that a good portion of our retail and restaurants might not survive all of this." Will Salazar's restaurants make it? And what does he think about Gov. Mike DeWine's decisions to shutdown restaurants for two months?Find out on this week's That's So Cincinnati episode. Click the Audioboom link at the top to listen for free. Or listen to the episode for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio and other listening platforms. Salazar's interview begins at the 13:40 mark in the episode.

Before the streetcar was shut down to passengers to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, there was a plan on the table to make it fare-free.Yes, free. Finally. Supporters have long said such a move would bolster weak ridership.Cincinnati City Councilman Chris Seelbach told The Enquirer’s That’s So Cincinnati podcast that the Cincinnati Bell Connector was going to be free to ride starting July 1. (Click the Audioboom link at the top of the article to listen to the podcast episode for free.) It would have been free even sooner than that, Seelbach said, but there was concern about any discussion of the streetcar interfering with Cincinnati Metro’s levy.Now – with the streetcar still closed to passengers and the city facing gaping budget deficits – no one knows what will happen, Seelbach said.If Cincinnati doesn’t get some federal aid, he said, the streetcar may never open back up at all, let alone without fares.It was a shocking statement from one of the streetcar's biggest proponents.“That’s just the reality,” he said. “In addition to it not reopening, we will likely be shutting down all parks, all health centers, rec centers, your garbage is only getting pick-up once a month. I mean, that’s the dire situation we’re looking at if we don’t get assistance from the federal government. And so far we haven’t.”The streetcar launched in September 2016. It had a successful start – with more than 133,000 riders that first month – but it has been plagued by troubles since. Ridership quickly dropped, falling well below projections, and the streetcar has struggled to gain revenue from advertising and fares.With the breakout of COVID-19, under the orders of the Cincinnati health commissioner and Mayor John Cranley, the streetcar has been closed since April 1. Rather than shutting down completely, though, the streetcar has been running without passengers. Officials said it would cost between $300,000 and $1 million to bring the streetcar back into service after a complete shutdown. Running it empty, save for a skeleton crew, costs roughly $138,000 a month.Travis Jeric, interim deputy director of the streetcar, did not return a message seeking comment about a potential plan to make the streetcar far-free.David Mann, city council’s budget and finance committee chair, said he’s not sure where the July 1 date came from.Mann has long advocated for a fare-free streetcar but said he was unaware of any concrete plans.“I had not heard a definite date, and I haven’t heard anything about it since the stay at home orders and the temporary closing,” he said. “It’s pretty obvious, I think, that we’re going to have a heated debate about what to do about the streetcar, ranging from close it to bring it back the way it was to free service.”Mann is worried now about the city’s overall budget, which has a projected $15 million deficit this fiscal year and a projected $90 million deficit next fiscal year, recently upped from an earlier $80 million projection.He thinks city council needs to tackle that budget first – “which is going to be misery” – and then it can take up the streetcar issue.The streetcar's operating budget is $5 million a year, but it's set up to be self-sustaining. The money is to come from fares, advertising naming rights and developers who benefit from proximity to it. But it was falling short even before the pandemic.Last year, Cincinnati City Council had to cover a $1.4 shortfall in that budget with operating budget money. The same struggles this fiscal year, coupled with the pandemic shutdown mean that amount will likely climb.Also on this week's That's So Cincinnati episode, Seelbach discussed: City Council's Gang of 5 text message scandal FC Cincinnati's new West End stadium Gentrification of Over-the-Rhine

Concerns are growing inside the Cincinnati Police Department about the possibility of officers being laid off as City Hall faces a monumental $80 million budget deficit in the upcoming fiscal year.Police union President Dan Hils, never one to back down from a political fight, is ready to "call out stupid" if City Council attempts to prioritize any pet projects at the expense of public safety.After years of saying they'll make basic public services a top priority, the politicians "have to mean it this time, because they have no choice," Hils told The Enquirer's That's So Cincinnati podcast. "If they go out there and do stupid pet projects," Hils added, "we've really elected the wrong bunch of folks." Click the Audioboom link at the top of this article to listen to That's So Cincinnati for free. It's also available for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio and most podcast listening platforms. Hils' interview begins at the 2:25 mark in the episode.The city's budget has been hit hard by coronavirus-related economic shutdown. City Hall must figure out how to deal with the budget crisis before the next fiscal year begins on July 1. The poster child for pet projects is, of course, the streetcar, which sucks at least $1.4 million out of the annual operating budget. Streetcar ticket sales and advertising revenue continues to be off projections, and the rarely used rail line could require more taxpayer money out of the upcoming operating budget. The streetcar is closed to passengers during the health emergency, and the question lingers whether it'll ever be reopened. Hils said he supports the idea of the federal government waiving a requirement that the city must pay back $45 million in streetcar construction grants if it's shutdown permanently."They're stuck between a rock and a hard place when it comes to the federal funds," Hils said. "City Council got themselves into it, and I hope they can figure it out. I would love if the feds could say, 'Because of the COVID stuff, we're going to continue to send what we're going to be able to send you (for non-streetcar related projects), but shut that dumb thing down.' "Hils is prepared to work with the city administration on finding ways to help them save money in the police department. He hopes the city can work with officers nearing retirement as a way to avoid laying off younger officers. "If you could find some sort of way to buyout or encourage or help people make the decision (to retire), that could save the city an awful lot of money," Hils said. "And then they could restructure, look at some of the reduction of command officers or higher ranks so you could leave the people that are down there on the street dealing with the violence each and every day," Hils added."That would be a wiser move, if it comes down to it that they have to reduce the amount of Cincinnati police officers that are on the payroll." Hils discussed other issues and topics on That's So Cincinnati. His future: Hils has been the Cincinnati Fraternal Order of Police president since 2015, and he made a splash in his first two-year term by advocating for big wage hikes to make the Cincinnati police force salaries comparable to those of officers in similar-size cities. His efforts led to bigger-than-anticipated raises in 2016, costing taxpayers $25 million over three years. Hils was re-elected to a new two-year term in December. It could be his last term because he has to retire in May 2022, due to parameters of his retirement agreement with the city. He'd like to stay longer as union president. That would require FOP members to change a rule to allow a retired officer to run the organization, meaning the union would pay the president's full salary instead of the city. The membership will be making the decision as Hils heads to negotiations on a new police contract, which expires in May 2021."I think I still have a lot of support," Hils said.Beyond that, Hils said, he's keeping the door open to possibly running for elected office someday. The Republican briefly jumped into the 2020 Hamilton County commissioners race, but dropped out a week later when he realized it would be a conflict with his job as FOP president. "Can I ever see myself in politics in the future?" Hils said. "Yeah, I find it attractive." Sheriff's race: Hils originally kicked around the idea of running for sheriff this year, but gave way when his long-time colleague and friend Bruce Hoffbauer decided to run.Hoffbauer, who recently retired Cincinnati police lieutenant, faces Democrat Charmaine McGuffey in the November election. It's expected to be a highly competitive race after McGuffey crushed incumbent Jim Neil in last month's primary. Local political watchers believe Green Township's Hoffbauer will win over many of Neil's strong base of Republican and independent voters on the heavily populated West Side."Bruce Hoffbauer is an outstanding leader," Hils said. "He's tough as nails when it comes to following the rules and ma

Supermarkets are limiting meat purchases as outbreaks of the new coronavirus has shutdown meat-processing plants across the U.S.But never fear, Greater Cincinnatians."There won't be a shortage of goetta," Glier's Goetta CEO Dan Glier told That's So Cincinnati podcast.Glier's Northern Kentucky-based plant is equipped with a state-of-the-art sanitation system the company installed last year. Dan Glier also talks about the unique history of the company his dad started in 1946 and whether there will be a Glier's Goettafest on the riverfront this summer. Hint: He's very optimistic. Also this week, That's So Cincinnati cohosts Jason Williams and Sharon Coolidge discuss protesters outside Dr. Amy Acton's house, 50 West Brewing's new burger bar and the joys of reconnecting with friends.

Bent on reopening the economy, Ohio Republican lawmakers are returning to Columbus next week united around one message: Convincing Republican Gov. Mike DeWine to start listening more to elected officials in the Statehouse and less to non-elected state medical Director Amy Acton. Ahead of the Legislature returning to session on Tuesday for the first time in six weeks, Ohio House Majority Leader Bill Seitz of Green Township joined The Enquirer's That's So Cincinnati podcast to talk about the role GOP lawmakers, DeWine and Acton are playing in reopening the economy.Listen to the episode for free by clicking the Audioboom link above. It's also available for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio and most other podcast listening platforms. The Seitz interview begins at the 30:15 mark in the episode.Seitz, the long-time state lawmaker from Cincinnati's West Side, didn't mince words, either. House Republicans are frustrated with DeWine and Acton over their decision to slowly reopen the economy – too slowly, in their view.Asked if DeWine is leaning too heavily on the guidance of Acton, Seitz said: "I do. She has tunnel vision, and that's appropriate. Her job is director of the Department of Health, so she's looking at this through the lens of what is optimal for public health. But I think she is not sufficiently cognizant about the damage this has done to our economy."Seitz, the No. 3-ranking member of the House, added: "She's got a job to do, but it can't be the sole determinant of what we do. It's time to walk back the heavy hand of government – which is ill-suited to ordering the entire economy around for any length of time – and realize that we are not going to cower in our basements forever. It's time to get on with life. People have to earn a paycheck."House GOP leaders also weren't happy with Acton's decision to close the polls for the March 17 primary, leading the House to decide voting would be done by mail-only and extended this past Tuesday. Eventually, the Legislature could take a look at the law that allows the state medical director to have such powers, Seitz said."Amy Acton probably had the legal authority under this overly broad statute written 100 years ago to order the polls to be closed," said Seitz, an attorney. "I think it was a mistake, but she had that legal authority. When this is all over, we will be looking very carefully at that statute to see what lessons we learned here and see if it's not appropriate to require some curbs on the power of the Ohio Department of Health Director."Seitz added: "Otherwise, you've given pretty untrammeled power to an unelected. bureaucrat. I think that's a dangerous thing. The problem that I have with it is the total lack of formal legislative input or oversight over the process. I'm not trying to fault Dr. Acton unnecessarily here. I'm simply saying that down the road, when this is all over, we will probably be taking a long, measured look at that statute and see how it can be updated." Here's a sampling of other topics Seitz discussed on the podcast: Back to normal in NovemberOnly the Legislature can make significant changes to elections, and Seitz said he doesn't expect any this fall."We need to have in-person voting in November," he said. "I don't see us changing the Nov. 3 date. I do think there will be a renewed attention on absentee voting. I do agree it probably makes sense to allow people to request their absentee ballot online as long as we can verify appropriately that they are in fact a registered voter." Going to bat for small businesses Gov. DeWine on Monday unveiled the first phase of his plan to reopen the economy. It calls for retail businesses to reopen on May 12. But there's no date yet for the reopening of restaurant dining rooms, barbershops and beauty salons. "I am hoping that we will certainly have all of those facilities open by mid- to late-May at the absolute latest," Seitz said. "I am encouraged that the governor is moving in that direction. We want to get it going a little quicker than he does. That's where the fight is." Trusting the citizenrySeitz expressed general frustration about government not trusting citizens enough to reopen the economy."The reality is we the Republicans of the House believe that it's time to start trusting the common sense of the people of Ohio," Seitz said. "If you feel sick, stay home. If you are sick, stay home. If you are afraid, stay home. If you want to wear a mask, wear a mask. But if you want to take a chance and live your life as a free American the way we've lived since 1776, a lot of us say, 'Let's do it.' "He added: "Most of these rules aren't any different than we learned in kindergarten. Cover your cough. Don't spit in your classmate's mashed potatoes. Don't be too touchy feely with people. I think many Ohioans – most of them – are willing to be voluntarily compliant with common sense measures." Football this fall? Asked when he thinks people can start going to big events again, Seit

Jerry Springer knows television and politics — and the proud liberal can't stand Donald Trump.So how do you get "Judge Jerry" fired up? Ask Springer whether the networks should be airing Trump's daily coronavirus press conferences."There is no excuse now that we know what they're like for just turning on the cameras," Springer told The Enquirer's That's So Cincinnati podcast. "The reporters should be there, and then write their reports or report it on the news that night. But to just turn the cameras on Trump for an hour and a half. that's not journalism. That's technology. I blame the journalists for this now. I could see the first couple of days – or maybe even weeks – doing it." Springer, the former Cincinnati mayor and one-time Channel 5 anchor, continued: "But now that we see what the routine is – that Trump gets up there and spews his stuff and then finally the doctors get up there and basically refute what he's saying – the public is not being helped."Stuck at home in Sarasota, Florida, Springer is waiting to return to the NBCUniversal studios in Connecticut to record more episodes of "Judge Jerry," a syndicated, reality court show that debuted last fall. Springer, 76, also continues to record his weekly Jerry Springer Podcast with Greater Cincinnatians Jene Galvin and Maria Carelli via conference call. Once life gets back to normal, Springer plans to resume his weekly trips into Cincinnati to record the podcast.In a wide-ranging interview on That's So Cincinnati, Springer didn't mince words in criticizing Trump and Trump supporters. Springer also discussed: About flirting with running for Ohio governor in 2018In 2017, Springer told The Enquirer "I could be Trump without the racism" amid rumors swirling about him running for governor. He opened up more about considering that race."I was pretty close (to running), because there were people in the party who were very supportive," Springer said. "I hadn't thought about it in years, and all of a sudden, they send me a poll. I could see why I was in the discussion, simply because I'm well known."He added: "It wasn't that easy a decision. I'm pretty glib about it now. I had to think: Do I really have the energy? The adrenaline can keep going when you're in a race. But then what if I had won? And now at this age, when I take naps in the afternoon ... I have to be honest: I think I would have the energy, but I don't know that for sure." Tale of two Republican governorsOhio's Mike DeWine has been lauded worldwide for his proactive and cautious approach to handling the coronavirus. On the other hand, few governors have been more criticized than Florida's Ron DeSantis, who was reluctant to shutdown beaches and was late to issue stay-at-home orders. Springer offered his assessment of the governors in his former state and current state.On DeWine: "I may disagree with a lot of his politics, but he's not a crazy person. He's a bright person and he's responding to what is obvious: If we don't have social distancing. If we don't do what the doctors and the scientists are telling us, this thing is going to come back again and destroy the economy for another five years. Yeah, he's Republican but he's a common sense kind of person. He's going to get a lot of credit and frankly he deserves."On DeSantis: "Well, you know, he's horrible. He was going to be Trump's boy. Those were his (campaign) commercials. He was going to do whatever Trump said. So what he's doing is not surprising and it's dangerous." Still loves Cincinnati politicsSpringer has long maintained relationships with a handful of Cincinnati Democrats, including City Councilman David Mann and former local party Chairman Tim Burke. Springer and Mann served on City Council in the 1970s. In recent months, Mann has been considering a run for mayor in 2021 and he reached out to Springer for advice. "I would support David Mann for whatever he ran for because there's no conceivable way David Mann would make an irrational decision," Springer said. "He is like if you ran to your father for advice. Add to his demeanor and his rationality, his intelligence and knowledge and, you know, that's pretty tough to beat."My text (to Mann) was, I think I said: "Hell yes!"

Some 50,000 absentee ballots have been cast in Hamilton County since the coronavirus sent the Ohio primary election to the mailbox.Thousands more are still expected to participate before this unprecedented vote-by-mail only election ends on April 28. And lots of confusion and questions remain about how to vote and how to make sure your vote is counted. The Enquirer has you covered right here. Sherry Poland, Hamilton County Board of Elections executive director, addressed all you need to know about the stay-at-home election on The Enquirer's That's So Cincinnati podcast this week. Here's a guide based off her interview: How to vote: Step-by-step It's a rather cumbersome process, so here are the steps to follow to make sure you get to vote and it gets counted.1. Fill out an absentee ballot application. The application can be found on the Board of Elections website: votehamiltoncountyohio.gov. Print it out and mail it in. (Click here to download the application.) If you do not have access to a printer, contact the board of elections and ask to have an application mailed to you. Applications also can be picked up at the Board of Elections offices (4700 Smith Road, Norwood), 12 Kroger stores throughout Hamilton County and found in the Sunday Enquirer print edition.2. Mail or drop off the application at the Board of Elections. Either way, the board must receive the application by 12 p.m. on Saturday, April 25. If you don't have the application in by then, you will not be able to vote in the primary. If mailing, you have to pay for your own postage. Drive-up, drop boxes are available at the Board of Elections. Take note: You cannot email or fax the ballot. State law does not allow for the electronic distribution and submission of ballots and related documents.3. Receive your ballot in the mail. This is the only way you can receive a ballot. You cannot pick it up anywhere, not even at the Board of Elections. 4. Fill out the ballot and mail or drop off at the Board of Elections. If you mail your ballot, it must be postmarked no later than April 27. Postage is already paid for, so save your stamps. Or if you choose to drop it off at the Board of Elections, it must be done by 7:30 p.m. on April 28. Don't forget to pick your preferred ballot Republican? Democrat? Libertarian? Strictly a non-partisan issues voter? Regardless, you need to make it known on the application which type of voter you are in order to receive a ballot – and save yourself and board officials lots of headaches."We are receiving applications where a voter is forgetting to check the box to let us know what type of ballot they are requesting," Poland said. "This is a primary election, so voters need to tell us if they wish to receive a Democratic ballot, a Republican ballot or an issues-only ballot. For those voters living in the 1st Congressional (District), they also have the option of choosing a Libertarian ballot."Did you forget to do this? No worries. The board of elections has been contacting voters who've sent in their applications without the box checked for a specific ballot. Or you can call the board to make the correction at 513-632-7000. It's like FedEx for voting You can track whether your application and subsequently your ballot have been processed. That can be done on votehamiltoncountyohio.gov. There is no in-person voting.With a few exceptions. Disabled and homeless voters will be allowed to cast their ballots in-person at the Board of Elections from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on April 28 only. Anyone who does not fall into those voter categories will not be allowed to vote in-person during the remainder of the election.Again, voters who have received their ballots by mail can drop those off at the Board of Elections on April 28. But otherwise, elections officials are asking that others do not show up that day at the Board of Elections or polling locations. "We're just asking for people to do what's right and follow the law," Poland said. Election night: No waiting for precinct reportingAfter the 7:30 p.m. voting deadline on April 28, election results will be released "no later than 8 p.m." There will be some periodic updates throughout the night as other late-arriving ballots are processed. But since there won't be any waiting for each precinct to report results, it shouldn't be an hourslong process to find out who wins the election. The results will reflect how candidates and issues fared by precinct, since that's how absentee voters are still are tracked. Ballots postmarked April 27 may not arrive until a day or two after the election. But those ballots will be counted as part of the board's official count in early May. Could this happen again in November? Maybe, though no decisions have been made to change the logistics of the November general election. Still, an increase in absentee voting could be here to stay as part of the new norm when the pandemic ends. "Even if we do still have in-person voting in November, I do think more peo

Dr. O'dell Owens wants us all stay focused on a public health crisis. He's talking about the opioid crisis, Greater Cincinnati's leading public health expert wants everyone to know hasn't gone away amid the coronavirus pandemic. "It’s falling off of people’s thought patterns," Owens told The Enquirer's That's So Cincinnati podcast. "That’s what bothers me. This issue was so big that the life expectancy numbers in our country changed."Owens, president and CEO of Interact for Health, is concerned about what life is going to be like after the coronavirus is under control. He fears medical resources and funding will be diverted from tackling drug addiction, which could get worse if there's a recession. More immediately, Owens said, what's going to happen when restrictions are lifted on international shipping?"The supply chain has really been cut down," said Owens, the former Hamilton County coroner. "People have to get by with a little less than what they normally would use. That’s why I think the overdoses are down. But once China opens back up and the Mexican borders open back up, they’ve got a stockpile of (drugs) that they’re going to put in this market and it’s going to be cheap. It’s frightening."Named one of the Great Living Cincinnatians by the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber this year, Owens touched on several other topics on the podcast. Here's a further sampling of what he said: On what life generally could be like after the coronavirus pandemic ends ... This country will never be the same. The way we practice medicine. The way we educate people. The way we relate. The handshake is dead. Who’s hand are you going to shake and when? You going to shake somebody’s hand in June? You going to shake it in September when you’re still hearing about cases? And we’re going to wash our hands more. If they’re any silver lining, we’re going to see less cases of the regular flu this year. And we will have started a culture of people washing their hands more. This is going to be a good thing because it’s going to impact other diseases as well.On whether he'll run for elected office again ... Oh, no, no, no. I’ve had my share of public office, and I’ll never do that again. I’m more of an independent Democrat. I have a friend who’s a very, very conservative Republican, a very successful businessman in Cincinnati. He guaranteed … he would minimally raise $1 million for my campaign. He’s said that for the last seven years. I said, ‘No.’ I had my run as the coroner. We did some great things, but I wear my heart on my sleeves. As a politician, people can say anything about you that they want whether it’s true or not. You get a lot of unjustified criticism. I’ve done that. I’ve accomplished that. I think I can be helpful doing other kinds of things.On what Owens meant by saying he's "not done yet" during the Great Living Cincinnatian ceremony in February ... I was that poor kid from the West End who was written off. I was the one who was told by the counselor I was too poor and too stupid to go to college. So for me, it’s always been this strong sense that I have to give back. But more importantly, I have to inspire. I have to go talk to the people who don’t have a voice and say, ‘Hey, I’m not asking you to go to Yale and Harvard like I did, but at least give me high school.’ I just feel strongly that we have to leave this earth better than what we have.

U.S. Sen. Rob Portman hasn't been holding daily press conferences to update Ohioans on the novel coronavirus, but the Greater Cincinnati Republican has been doing critical work to help fight the pandemic.Portman has President Trump's ear, a relationship that's helped major Ohio companies quickly clear bureaucratic hurdles in efforts to make and receive critical products to combat the novel coronavirus, both locally and nationwide. Among the companies Portman is helping: Procter & Gamble, Cardinal Health and GOJO Industries (maker of Purell hand sanitizer).Does Trump and his administration return Portman's calls if he'd have voted against the president on impeachment a few months ago? It's question Portman was as a guest his week on The Enquirer's That's So Cincinnati podcast. Here's a look at some of the topics Portman discussed on the podcast: Phone call with TrumpPortman said he talked on the phone with President Trump on Wednesday, in part, about helping Central Ohio-based Cardinal Health to receive federal approval of the companies donation of the 2 million hospital gowns to the national stockpile of personal protective equipment.In his afternoon press conference that day, Trump praised Portman for working with the administration on behalf of Cardinal Health. Asked whether that happens if Portman had voted to impeach the president, Ohio's junior senator said: "There’s no question it’s useful to have a constructive working relationship with the administration. On the impeachment thing, I didn’t think the issue rose to that level of high crimes. I didn’t think the American people should be told, ‘This guy’s out of here. You don’t have a chance to vote for him one way or the other', because we were in the middle of an election – and still are. I just don’t think in that case, it was the right thing to do."Portman added: "But if I had gone the other way, it’d be very hard to have the kind of relationship you want to have. You try to be constructive and you try to be respectful. You kind of choose your battles. My job is to represent Ohio and get things done. It’s not to give speeches and get on cable TV and throw out the red meat. That's not the job you’re hired to do as an elected official." Respect for Dr. FauciPortman had been regularly attending Dr. Anthony Fauci's briefings on the coronavirus while the Senate was in session. Portman had a chance to talk with the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases after one of the sessions. "I went up to him afterwards and said, ‘You know, I’m praying for you,' " Portman said. "He kind of looked at me. I don’t think he’d heard that from many people. I said, ‘Because you’re so re-assuring. You are so capable with your experience and your knowledge and your style.' He’s just calm. He gives you a sense of confidence. ... He made the point to me early on, ‘Rob, we gotta have the ability to know what’s going on by having more testing.' " Helping P&G Portman has been in contact with Procter & Gamble CEO David Taylor. They've talked about what role the Cincinnati-based company can play in manufacturing products to help fight the virus. The company is making and donating face masks.Said Portman: "Procter & Gamble is making some hand sanitizer in Ohio, their Lima plant. They’re also looking at other ways to help. I’m not sure they’ve announced it yet. I think they’d like to look at everything – ventilators, face masks. They just want to be sure they’re able to produce it and produce it in volumes and make sure it’s something that’s needed. So they’re looking partly to people like me to help find out from the feds what are the priorities here." Donating $29,000Portman is donating his Senate paychecks in April and May to five organizations across Ohio that are helping with coronavirus relief. His annual salary is $174,000, meaning he's giving up $29,000."It’s a token amount," Portman said. "I just wanted to do something small to help. Mostly, I did because I was starting to hear from people, including friends of mine, who have lost their jobs. A lot of people are suffering right now, and I’m in a position to be able to do it."Find out more about Portman's role in fighting coronavirus and how he's personally handling by clicking the Audioboom link at the top to listen to the full That's So Cincinnati episode for free.You can also subscribe and listen for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and most other listening platforms. Portman's interview begins at the 28:30 mark of the episode.

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and two of his granddaughters were walking into a Columbus pub to grab a carryout meal on St. Patrick's Day – and what would've been Ohio's primary Election Day – when his cellphone rang. It was President Trump calling.In an interview with The Enquirer's That's So Cincinnati podcast, DeWine said the president called to discuss the governor's decision to delay the election amid the coronavirus crisis. Did he agree with your decision? "Well ..." DeWine paused and chuckled. The governor then added: "The day before, somebody asked him about the election, and he had made some comment. And then the next day, he said something that was very favorable about me, so I think that's why he called me. It was a relatively short call." Indeed, Trump praised DeWine in comments the president made on March 17, saying the governor is "doing a great job" and is "definitely somebody who knows what he is doing." On March 16, just hours before Election Day, DeWine's administration called for the polls to be closed due to a health emergency. It was a chaotic day for the governor and all of Ohio, confusion DeWine now wishes he would've avoided."Look, if I had it do over again, I would've done it earlier," DeWine said of deciding to delay the primary. "It was the right decision. Just didn't reach that decision, frankly, until that (March 16) morning." In a rare interview outside of his daily coronavirus press conferences, DeWine also discussed how he's drawn upon experiences from his personal life to help guide his decisions the past few weeks. In particular, Gov. DeWine has reflected the mission work he and his family have been doing in Haiti since the mid-1980s."Where we've learned about public health is in Haiti," DeWine said. "We saw a lot of public health issues. When AIDS didn't really have a cure, we met Paul Farmer down in Haiti – who remains a friend and someone who we learned a lot (from) in regard to pubic health. All those things were important."Dr. Farmer is a United Nations special adviser who's spent several years working on public health issues in Haiti.What does DeWine think about the bipartisan praise he's received from top Ohio Democrats?What advice has his wife of 52 years given him during the crisis? And how much longer does DeWine think we're going to have to stay home? Find out the answers and much more from Gov. DeWine's chat on That's So Cincinnati. DeWine's interview begins at the 18:42 mark in the episode.

Leading in a time of crisis is nothing new for John Cranley. The Cincinnati mayor told The Enquirer's That's So Cincinnati podcast that he's reflected on his experience of helping the city through the 2001 riots while leading the city's response to the new coronavirus. Cranley was a member of city council in 2001, when civil unrest occurred after an unarmed black man was shot and killed by a police officer during an arrest attempt. Logistically, the experiences were similar – daily press conferences to keep citizens informed, long meetings with leaders to monitor the situation and helping residents not to panic. "Literally days on end I would spend with Mayor (Charlie) Luken in the mayor's office," Cranley said. "It was a similar mindset that we're going through now. It was incredibly stressful and people were scared."He later added: "There is something to be said for experience."Also on this week's episode, Enquirer Executive Editor Beryl Love takes listeners behind the scenes to discuss what it's like to lead a large news organization during the time of a huge news story. Love addresses the positive feedback from readers, and provides insight into how he responds to what some people are calling a "media-induced panic." That's So Cincinnati cohosts Jason Williams and Sharon Coolidge discuss the fallout from a delayed election and what's next for figuring out when Ohioans can cast their votes.

Cincinnati's heavily populated West Side finally has a representative on Cincinnati City Council, and Betsy Sundermann has a message for Westwood and the Price Hill neighborhoods: "I'm listening to you," the Republican said on The Enquirer's That's So Cincinnati podcast this week. Sundermann was appointed to council last week to replace Amy Murray, who left for a job in the Trump administration. She's the first West Side resident to hold a seat on council since 2009, when then-West Price Hill resident Greg Harris was on council. East Price Hill's Sundermann has already started to take an in-depth look to see how City Hall treats the West Side. She has asked the administration to provide data on citywide economic development projects to see if the West Side is getting its fair share of funding."Every time I talk to community councils, they always say, 'No one's listening to us at City Hall. They only listen to the East Side and Downtown,' " Sundermann said. "Now I can go and say, 'I'm listening to you! Tell me all of your problems.' "Sundermann also talked about helping to restore civility on a council that's been plagued by infighting and scandal. "I don't have any preconceived notions about anyone," Sundermann said. "I'm not going into this hating anyone. Everyone's telling me what I should think about people, but I'm going to make my own decisions."She added: "I'm going to try my best to get along with people. That doesn't mean that I'm going to vote for what they want me to vote for. But I'm going to be respectful and I will calmly negotiate things with people are who willing to do that with me."Find out more about Sundermann by listening to her in-depth chat for free on That's So Cincinnati. Click the Audioboom link at the top to listen here or go to Apple Podcasts, iHeart Radio, Spotify and other listening platforms.

The "R" word has been mentioned a lot in Cincinnati politics the past week: Reform. Should Cincinnati voters implement a recall provision in the city charter?Should City Council have a mandated attendance policy? Should each City Council members' $65,000-a-year salary be cut? Should city law be changed on how open council seats are filled? Few people know city law better than COAST attorney and Republican Hamilton County Common Pleas Judge candidate Curt Hartman, who joins That's So Cincinnati podcast this week to address all these questions and more in the wake of the Tamaya Dennard scandal.Enquirer Opinion Editor Kevin Aldridge pinch hits as a co-host alongside political columnist Jason Williams, and they discuss the top contenders to replace Dennard on council.Also, there was another special guest this week. You'll have to listen to find out who it was.

Democrats could have an open seat on Cincinnati City Council soon, with the possibility of Tamaya Dennard either resigning or being removed from office amid legal troubles.Who could be in line to fill the seat? Cincinnati.com City Hall reporter Sharon Coolidge and political columnist Jason Williams broke down potential candidates on their That's So Cincinnati podcast this week. Here are some of the potential candidates they talked about: Ryan DuPree: She's executive director of Walnut Hills-based Christ Emmanuel Christian Fellowship, where her parents – Bishop Michael Dantley and Pastor Carol Dantley – have led the congregation for decades. Bishop Dantley has been a supporter of Mayor John Cranley, who once attempted to hire Dupree to work on the mayor's staff. Dupree has never run for public office before, but she is widely liked by establishment and progressive Democrats. She sits on the board of the Community Action Agency, and her work and relationships have helped her gain a strong understanding of city issues. Dupree would bring a fresh perspective to City Hall, and there's a good chance she'd be the front-runner for the seat. Lesley Jones: The Mount Airy pastor is one of the city's leaders fighting for racial healing. Jones was an endorsed Democrat in the 2017 council race, her first attempt at political office. She finished 12th in a field race where the top nine win a seat. Alicia Reece: The one-time Cincinnati vice mayor and state lawmaker is currently running for Todd Portune's former seat on the Hamilton County Board of Commissioners. That blockbuster local primary between the Roselanwn resident and former state lawmaker Connie Pillich is a toss-up, and Reece's strong base of city Democratic support could lift her to victory. But if she loses, Reece will likely have party leaders pushing for her to get the seat. Sedrick Denson: The former City Hall aide to Councilman Wendell Young, Denson is in his first term as a state representative. He lives in Springfield Township, so he would have to move back into the city. Ozie Davis: The popular Avondale resident is well known in city politics. He recently sat on the Cincinnati Public Schools board, but lost his bid to keep the seat as a write-in candidate last fall. Davis was an endorsed Democrat for council in 2017, when he finished 11th in his first political race.Also on this week's episode: SORTA board member and Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber executive Brendon Cull talks in-depth about the Issue 7 transportation levy that'll be on the March ballot in Hamilton County.

No one knows Cincinnati politics better than Pete Witte, who some jokingly call the "Mayor of the West Side."The West Price Hill resident and small business owner is plugged in with both Republicans and Democrats and he offers his insight and analysis on That's So Cincinnati about: The candidates to replace Republican Amy Murray on Cincinnati City Council Who he thinks should be the front-runner for Murray's seat The lack of West Side representation at City Hall John Cranley's run for governor in 2022 Plus, co-hosts Jason Williams and Sharon Coolidge offer their take on Murray's seat and Cranley's chances of winning statewide.

David Mann sure sounds like he's going to run for Cincinnati mayor. But the city councilman isn't quite ready to go all in just yet."My wife and I are having a lot of conversations, and I'm talking to other people," Mann said on The Enquirer's That's So Cincinnati podcast this week. "There seems to be some interest (from the community), and I'm continuing to look at it very actively."Asked about a timetable for when he'll decided, the Clifton Democrat said: "If I'm going to think about it, I've got to start raising money. That's something I'm going to initiate soon. That's not an announcement. That kind of is a step in the process."Mann, 80, talked more in-depth about why he wants to make another run at the mayor's seat, which he's held twice in his long career in public service. He also talked about: His vision for the future of Cincinnati Definition of "progressive" Current state of City Hall Working with council's original "Gang of Five" in the 1980s

Some say long-time Hamilton County trial Judge Robert Ruehlman is controversial.There's no doubt he's tough – and can be tough-talking from the bench.Ruehlman has been in the news a lot in the past year, notably for his public lambasting of Cincinnati City Council's so-called "Gang of Five" Democrats and for not hesitating to call ICE on suspected illegal immigrants. But there's also a human side to the West Side Republican. He showed that in an in-depth interview this week on The Enquirer's That's So Cincinnati podcast.Specifically, Ruehlman went into details about how the case of early 1980s serial killer Michael Beuke has affected him. Ruehlman was the prosecutor on the case of the so-called "Mad Hitchhiker." Beuke, who was from West Price Hill, had gone on a nearly monthlong shooting spree across Greater Cincinnati in 1983. He committed his crimes after being picked up as a hitchhiker. Beuke was convicted that year for murdering one man and also found guilty for the attempted slayings of two other men. He was sentenced to the death penalty by then-Judge Norbert Nadel. The state executed Beuke in 2010. Here are some samples of Ruehlman's podcast interview reflecting on Beuke: Ruehlman said Bueke's life is example of the dangers of bullying. The case made Ruehlman impress upon his seven children to never bully. "Everybody made fun of him because he was kind of funny looking. He was kind of frail. They called him 'Pukey Beuke'. And then one day he just decided he was gonna start killing people. ... You feel sorry for him, but he has a brutal killer." Ruehlman called the Lucasville prison several times on the day Beuke was executed by lethal injection. Ruehlman, who became a judge in the late 1980s, said he kept getting reports that Beuke was still talking even after receiving the injection. "I was kind of nervous because, believe it or not, just from a religious point of view, I'd never been in favor of the death penalty. But I believe in following the law as a judge. Killing somebody? Yeah. I was involved in his execution. It was that the first person that I was (involved with in a death penalty case). It was hard, although he deserved it. Ruehlman also addresses why he calls ICE. And he talks about life away from the bench, including his decadeslong passion for scuba diving and spearfishing. He regularly dives off Key West and in the Ohio River. Yes, the Ohio River. And you won't believe some of the things he's found at the bottom of the big muddy. Click the Audioboom link above to listen for free. Or subscribe and listen for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio and most other listening platforms.

It's a double-feature of guests this week on That's So Cincinnati.Jean-François Flechet, owner of Taste of Belgium: He tells the unique story of how he went from crunching data at Nielsen to building a Cincinnati waffle-making empire. He offers a candid assessment of The Banks, where Flechet has one of his four restaurants. Flechet also discusses his efforts to help the restaurant industry overcome the stigma of substance abuse. Gabe Davis, Hamilton County prosecutor candidate: The Democrat discusses why he's running for office; his background growing up as the son of a police officer; and what he would do if elected to the top office in local politics. He also has a message for those who are doubting whether he can win the primary.Also this week, That's So Cincinnati co-hosts Jason Williams and Sharon Coolidge address the issue of "waterless" fire hydrants, a public safety issue that has come to light in the wake of last fall's massive house blaze in North Avondale.What other hydrants around town have low water pressure? The city has no idea, and fire officials are pushing City Hall to address the issue.

It's hard to believe Bill Cunningham was once a Democrat who aspired to be elected judge in Hamilton County. He's long since become one of the Midwest's top conservative voices, closing in on 40 years of calling 'em like he sees 'em weekdays on 700 WLW. Cunningham's powerful mic has helped to thrust him into a new role in recent years – unofficial adviser to President Donald Trump. "He'll call me now and then and ask questions about what's happening," Cunningham told The Enquirer's weekly That's So Cincinnati podcast. "I give him my perspective on the Midwest. I tell him what I think he's doing right, what I think he's doing wrong. He wants to know how what he's doing is playing in Ohio. I give him my opinion and he likes it because I'm critical at times."Also on That's So Cincinnati, Cunningham addressed his future; reflected on the day he was pressed into a career he never planned to have; and discussed his biggest regret in 38 years on the air. Here's more a sampling of the in-depth interview with Cunningham: Is 2022 it for Willie? Cunningham's contract is up in two years. 2022 will mark his 40th year on WLW. He said he's talked to recently retired Hall of Fame baseball broadcaster Marty Brennaman about the process of retirement, but Cunningham hasn't decided yet whether he'll call it a career in 2022.Cunningham's wife, Penny, retired from Ohio's First District Court of Appeals last year."We're both in good health, thank God," said Cunningham, 72, who can be heard 9 a.m. to noon weekdays and 9 p.m. to midnight on Sunday. "Penny wants to travel. We have a nice place in Florida at a club. My friends are there. Penny's reforming the bylaws of the club. We want to spend time together." Cunningham added: "But right now, (radio) is what I want to do. Penny knows when I get up in the morning, I'm motivated to do it."'I was unnecessarily cruel'Asked who his favorite all-time local has been, Cunningham said former Cincinnati Mayor Charlie Luken. The question prompted Cunningham to reflect on the biggest regret of his radio career. It was in November 1993, after city of Cincinnati voters passed a charter amendment restricting certain legal rights for LGBT citizens. Roxanne Qualls was elected mayor that same election, and there were a lot of questions around town about her sexual preference.Cunningham invited reporters to WLW's studios to talk about Qualls and the charter amendment. "With the media present, I asked if she is gay," Cunningham said on the podcast. "I shouldn't have done it. It was the biggest mistake and blunder that I made. It was a big news story at the time. But man, I thought about it. On a human level, I was unnecessarily cruel." Cunningham said he's seen Qualls one time since, sometime in the late 1990s. If he had the opportunity, Cunningham said, "I would apologize to her."

Crossroads' Chuck Mingo is on the frontline of working to bring racial reconciliation to Greater Cincinnati. Thousands have gone through the megachurch's six-week "Undivided" program, which emphasizes people of different races and backgrounds to build long-term relationships.Mingo joins That's So Cincinnati podcast to chat about the successful program he started; race relations in the city; Crossroads' growth; and making the leap of faith from a successful business career to ministry.Also this week, TSC cohosts Jason Williams and Sharon Coolidge discuss the role "The Farm" banquet center played in local politics and the upcoming Hamilton County Democratic Party endorsement process.The joys of winter camping, and Jason has goetta for the first time.

Happy New Year, That's So Cincinnati listeners. Your favorite local podcast is out of the gate in 2020 with an insightful interview with attorney Brian Shrive, who's become a major player on the local political scene for his work on exposing the text-message scandal Cincinnati City Hall.Shrive talks about overcoming personal tragedy and struggles with addiction to go onto a successful law career fighting for open government. That work began a decade ago, when Shrive became one of the biggest thorns in the side of then-Congresswoman Jean Schmidt. His behind-the-scenes work for Brad Wenstrup's 2012 Congressional campaign helped the Cincinnati physician pull off the primary upset.Shrive also addresses why remains heavily critical of Cincinnati's streetcar. You won't want to miss this lively chat with one of the city's most influential rabble rousers.

What do Greater Cincinnati's political, business, media, entertainment and other top leaders want for the region in 2020? Nearly 20 regional leaders, including Joe Deters, Bill Cunningham, Alicia Reece and John Morris Russell, share what their New Year's resolutions are for Greater Cincinnati.You won't want to miss this special short but engaging New Year's episode of That's So Cincinnati.

Where did the City Hall text message scandal and the riverfront music venue end up on That's So Cincinnati's rankings of the top political stories of 2019? Find out in this special Christmas week episode.

The Nutcracker isn't unique to Cincinnati.But Victoria Morgan's version of the ballet classic certainly is. Morgan's dog, Cammy, inspired the poodle character in Morgan's revamping of the Cincinnati Ballet's version of The Nutcracker in 2011. “I really wanted it to be fresh, and I really wanted it to feel new,” Morgan, the ballet's artistic director, said on That's So Cincinnati podcast. “And I wanted especially young people to get a kick out of it.”In the Cincinnati Ballet’s version, it’s the poodle that distracts the Mouse King so The Nutcracker can win the battle.“Our dogs, they protect and give us company and comfort,” Morgan said.Also on this week's episode, cohosts Jason Williams and Sharon Coolidge discuss watchdog journalism and the man who ate 1,000 cheese coneys.

John Morris Russell's passion and energy is unparalleled year-round – and especially at Christmastime.The Cincinnati Pops conductor joins That's So Cincinnati podcast to discuss all sorts of things, including: The Pops' recent Grammy nomination and his celebration on an airplane World renowned violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter and smartphone usage at concerts The importance of including all people in the Pops The Pops' holiday traditions and concerts, including a special Christmas message from JMR at the end of the episode Here's a sampling of JMR's in-depth That's So Cincinnati interview, talking about the Mutter's Cincinnati performance this year being interrupted by a woman recording it with her smartphone.“The concert hall, Music Hall, is my church," Russell said. "It’s a sacred space where people gather to experience something together at the same time. And man, you’ve got to be in the room where it happens. ... Bringing in that inanimate object that takes some sort of electronic copy, it spoils the moment right there for all of us – and it really demeans that moment.”You do not want to miss this fun and lively chat with a man who has helped make Cincinnati one of America's great cities for the performing arts. Listen to JMR's full interview on That's So Cincinnati for free by clicking on the Audioboom icon at the top of this article or by subscribing to Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio and other listening platforms.

Cincinnati Fire Chief Roy Winston talks about the Downtown building collapse, how his department responded and how tragedies impact first responders.The Enquirer's Amber Hunt discusses the launch of season three of the popular "Accused" podcast. And fake or real? As in Christmas tree.

Cincinnati cares, and the Freestore Foodbank is proof of that.Freestore CEO Kurt Reiber discusses the work one of the region's top nonprofit organizations is doing this holiday season. He also talks about: The importance of remembering that people are struggling with hunger year-round Tear-jerking stories about children in need -- and about children who are helping to address the issue of hunger Also this week, former Enquirer reporter Mark Curnutte joins That's So Cincinnati to talk about his newly released book, Across the Color Line: Reporting 25 Years in Black Cincinnati. And what the heck is goat yoga? TSC cohost Sharon Coolidge explains.

Hamilton County prosecutor candidate Fanon Rucker highlights the major differences between him and long-time prosecutor Joe Deters.Top among those differences: Rucker is opposed to the death penalty."I cannot see a circumstance, with all the inequities that we have in the system, that I would pursue a death penalty case," the Democrat told That's So Cincinnati.Find out more about Rucker's stance on the issue in this week's episode.Plus, That's So Cincinnati cohosts Sharon Coolidge and Jason Williams discuss "whitesplaining" at City Hall, a blockbuster commissioner's race, "athleisure" and visiting journalism students at Mason High School.

How can Democrats appeal to rural and working-class Trump Country voters? U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown is among few Democrats who knows the answer. The only Democrat to hold a prominent statewide office in Ohio joined That's So Cincinnati podcast to talk about: The presidential field and why he's not endorsing anyone Why he's staying out of the race, despite people continuing to ask him to jump in His relationship with Republican U.S. Sen. Rob Portman Civility in politics And what job he'd be doing if he weren't in politics Plus, That's So Cincinnati cohosts Jason Williams and Sharon Coolidge give their quick takes on all the hot local races coming up in 2020.

Cincinnati City Councilman Greg Landsman came bearing news on That's So Cincinnati podcast this week, saying Mayor John Cranley and Commissioner Todd Portune had brokered a deal on The Banks.Landsman also discussed: The future of The Banks Joint Steering Committee City-county relations His legislation to help prevent evictions And his assessment of Council nearly halfway into his first term Also on this week's episode, That's So Cincinnati co-hosts Jason Williams and Sharon Coolidge talk about how the renaming of the city's riverfront arena should catch political leaders' attention to push for building a new downtown arena.Team TSC also preview's Enquirer food critic Polly Campbell's upcoming survey on Cincinnati-style chili.

Ohio BMV Registrar Charlie Norman joins That's So Cincinnati this week. The Cincinnati native, hired this year by Gov. Mike DeWine, talks about: New customer-friendly ideas to reduce the pain of waiting in long lines at the BMV Visiting the license plate factory inside the Lebanon Correctional Facility How the BMV handles requests for politically charged specialized plates Also this week, Enquirer investigative reporter James Pilcher stops by to discuss an upcoming story about problems people are having with a well-known home builder. TSC co-host and political columnist Jason Williams addresses feedback about his recent Trump Country column.

What makes Jeff Ruby a true Cincinnati treasure?Well, besides his world-renowned steakhouses, he's never one to mince words.The famous restaurateur joined That's So Cincinnati to discuss: The possibility of opening a restaurant in Las Vegas His take on The Banks riverfront development Working on a new book called "Art of the Meal" How his Downtown restaurant was originally envisioned as a New York-style deli And of course, Ruby always has to give his take on politics. What did he say about Donald Trump? Find out on this week's episode by listening for free on Apple Podcasts, iHeart Radio, Spotify, Google Podcasts and many other listening platforms.

You've read their columns on The Banks-Bengals deal. Now listen to The Enquirer's Paul Daugherty and Jason Williams discuss the issue on That's So Cincinnati podcast.They address the Bengals' future, The Banks and the idea of a new referendum on the stadium tax. Plus, the That's So Cincinnati crew breaks down the 2020 Hamilton County prosecutor's race in the wake of Democrat Fanon Rucker announcing his candidacy this week.

The Banks needs help from a team of development experts.That's what Hamilton County Commissioner Denise Driehaus told That's So Cincinnati podcast this week in response to a question about whether the riverfront project needs a master developer.That question comes amid the highly controversial decision to build a music venue and rework the Bengals' stadium lease. The Banks have been without a master developer -- an expert team of real estate, urban planning and architecture experts -- since Atlanta-based Carter abruptly ceased work on the project in July 2017.Driehaus also discussed the Bengals' future, her relationship with Cincinnati Mayor John Cranley and the proposed new convention hotel.Also on this week's episode, TSC hosts talk more in-depth about the hotel deal and a fun night out in East Price Hill.

Blink starts next Thursday, and event co-founder Steve McGowan joins That's So Cincinnati to discuss the marvel of a city covered in lights and art.McGowan -- owner of Downtown-based creative services firm, Brave Berlin -- talks about transforming the light spectacle from Lumenocity at Washington Park into a citywide and now regional event. Blink, which started in 2017, heads across the Robeling Suspension Bridge this year and into Covington.What else is new this year? Where should you park? Where's the best place to see Blink? Steve has all the answers and more on this episode.Also this week, TSC cohosts Jason Williams and Sharon Coolidge discuss the issues with the Joint Banks Steering Committee. Plus, more on the new Kroger and one final tribute to Marty Brennaman.

Hamilton County Commissioner Todd Portune, who recently announced he's not running for re-election in 2020, joins That's So Cincinnati podcast for a candid discussion about his long political career, critical county projects and the Bengals' future.

Cincinnati Museum Center CEO Elizabeth Pierce joins That's So Cincinnati to talk about the Apollo 11 exhibit opening, Neil Armstrong's legacy and the museum center's magnificent makeover.Also in this episode, TSC co-hosts Jason Williams and Sharon Coolidge pay tribute to Hamilton County Commissioner Todd Portune as he battles cancers and prepares to retire. Jason and Sharon breakdown who could replace Portune and whether Republicans have a shot to regain a seat on the board of commissioners in 2020.As always, the TSC crew has a little fun. Jason takes a parting shot at Diner en Blanc.

John Cranley never shies away from a fight -- and he's battling The Banks music venue like he's never opposed a project before.Why is Cincinnati's mayor so opposed to the plan? He explains in-depth in a don't-miss episode of That's So Cincinnati.Plus, TSC co-hosts Sharon Coolidge and Jason Williams discuss Congressman Steve Chabot's campaign problems.And in the fun segment: Snakes and yoga a Red River Gorge, the intrigue of Diner en Blanc and marching bands playlist.

Don't believe the national narrative that Ohio isn't a key state in the 2020 presidential election, state Democratic Party Chairman David Pepper told That's So Cincinnati podcast this week.Ohio Democrats are performing the role of "left tackle" and "firewall" for key swing states like Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Michigan, Pepper said. What does that mean?Democrats want to "protect" those states by making Trump spend money and time in Ohio, a strategy they hope will divert the president's resources in the Midwest, Pepper said.Pepper, the former Cincinnati city councilman and Hamilton County commissioner, also talked about his political thriller novels and the role local journalism plays in democracy.

From Italy to Loveland, the Rozzi family has been lighting of the night on holidays and special occasions across Greater Cincinnati and the world for more than 120 years.Cincinnati's first family of fireworks joins That's So Cincinnati podcast to talk about the four-generation family company ahead of the 43rd annual Western & Southern/WEBN Labory Day fireworks.Company president Nancy Rozzi and her brother and vice president, Joe Rozzi, discuss art of pyrotechnics; Rozzi Firworks' international reach and the company's omnipresence across the region.Also this week, Enquirer Hamilton County/regional politics reporter Scott Wartman discusses how much taxpayers have shelled out in legal fees for The Banks and the ongoing turf war between Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky.This episode is jam-packed with news and insight -- and you won't want to miss it.

Ryan Messer, vice president of the Cincinnati Public Schools board, joins That's So Cincinnati this week to discuss: His role in saving the streetcar in 2013 as Over-the-Rhine Community Council president Key issues facing Ohio's third-largest school system Transforming an old Xavier University dorm into a home Also this week, TSC hosts Sharon Coolidge and Jason Williams breakdown the politics and issues surrounding efforts to build a new convention hotel.

It's been a crazy run of news lately, and That's So Cincinnati wanted to take a break from all that this week and have a little fun before summer winds down. TSC hit the road for this week's episode, recording live from Braxton Brewing in Covington. CEO Jake Rouse joined us for a conversation from the beautiful new rooftop bar.Among the topics Rouse talked about: Braxton being the first local brewery to go all-in on the hard seltzer craze and the challenges of launching VIVE The difficult of naming beers Deciding on new styles and flavors Long-term sustainability in an over-saturated industry.

Marty Brennaman calls 'em like sees 'em on this week's That's So Cincinnati. Would you expect otherwise? The Hall of Fame broadcaster talks about the history of his brutally honest style and whether he could get hired if he were just starting his career. He also gives his take on Cubs and Cardinals fans, his family, Donald Trump, FC Cincinnati and much more. The entire episode is dedicated to Brennaman, who is retiring next month after 46 years of calling Reds games.You don't want to miss it.