The Ohio Advocate

This week, we say farewell. Matt and Justin announce their decision to take a hiatus from the show, what it means to them, and what the future of The Ohio Advocate holds. We made sure to include some news and a feature for this show though, too! Matt and Justin give another update on August Issue 1, the Republican power grab aimed at keeping power out of the hands of Ohio voters, instead giving it to the legislature. They also discuss a bill introduced by Ohio Republicans that would eliminate sales tax on all sales of guns and ammo in the state. Matt interviews Raven Cruz Loaiza, the Mediation Response Coordinator at Dayton's Mediation Response Unit. The MRU is an organization that handles non-violent 911 calls, sending a mediator instead of an armed officer to help defuse the situation. They discuss how the unit is able to work both alongside and separate from Dayton's police force, and the success they've seen over the year plus that they've been operating. Music has been provided by Danimal Sound. Support the Show.

In this bonus extended segment, Matt and Justin reminisce about the past stories they've covered, the feature interviews the team did, and their contribution to news and opinion in Ohio politics. They reflect on the past, and look towards the future. Support the Show.

In this week's episode, Matt and Justin discuss a new bill moving through the statehouse that discriminates against transgender people, and they give an update on August Issue 1, which would take power away from Ohio's voters and give it to the legislature. They also talk about a bipartisan bill would legalize marijuana in Ohio, and the Cleveland Food Bank's plan to provide free meals to children all summer long. Music provided by Danimal Sound. Support the Show.

This week, Matt and Justin talk about a newly introduced bill in the Ohio House of Representatives that would establish universal healthcare in Ohio. They also discuss changes to the state budget that would expand the free lunch program for school kids, the Ohio Senate passing the DATA act, and how last year's cash bail constitutional amendment has thrown the whole pretrial release system into jeopardy. Music has been provided by Danimal Sound. Support the Show.

This week on The Ohio Advocate, Matt and Justin discuss the City of Cleveland's plan to provide paid parental leave to all its employees, activists' plan to derail the Republicans' plan to take power away from the people of Ohio, the US Supreme Court recognizing a transgender person's correct pronouns for the first time, and unlikely allies teaming up to take on the companies who are dumping toxic fracking waste water. Music has been provided by Danimal Sound. Support the Show.

This week, Matt and Justin talk about protests in Columbus against the legislature’s plan to take power away from the people of Ohio, the movement for marijuana legalization to appear on this November’s ballot, updates on the injunction against Ohio’s abortion ban, and a court case that could limit future toxic algae blooms on Lake Erie. As always, music has been generously provided by Danimal Sound. Support the Show.

In this week's episode, Matt and Justin discuss the EPA's newly released dioxin soil test results from East Palestine, some very stupid comments from US Senate candidate Bernie Moreno (R), Cuyahoga County Council taking on wage theft, and youth voter registration in Ohio. Music has been provided by Danimal Sound. Support the Show.

In this week's episode, Matt and Justin give an update on Ohio Republicans' effort to take power away from the people and make it harder to amend the Ohio Constitution. Then they take a deep dive into the newly released 2023 budget for the state of Ohio, discussing the new tax brackets, some major projects that are getting funding, and a slew of tax breaks that are going to wealthy people and large corporations. For our feature this week, we take a listen to speeches given by leaders in the movement to get justice for Jayland Walker, who was murdered by the Akron police department back in June of last year. With the recent announcement of the grand jury's decision to not charge the eight officers who fired nearly 100 rounds at Jayland, there is renewed vigor in the Justice for Jayland movement. As a warning to our listeners, some of these speeches include detailed accounts of police violence. Music provided by Danimal Sound. Support the Show.

In this week's episode, Matt and Justin talk about a newly proposed Ohio tax on large corporate landlords, aimed at helping keep rents down. They also talk about how Ohio's Attorney General Dave Yost is working to stop student loan forgiveness of graduates who were defrauded by for-profit universities. Matt sits down with Akron mayoral candidate Marco Sommerville, and discusses his plan and vision for the city, and how he would lead if elected mayor. Music provided by Danimal Sound. Support the Show.

In this week's episode, Matt and Justin talk about Norfolk Southern deleting video from inside of the locomotive that derailed in the East Palestine disaster, and a new Ohio House bill that would ban fracking and oil drilling under Lake Erie. Chrissy Stonebraker-Martinez interviews Jose-Arnulfo Cabrera from the Young Latino Network about their Liberation Lab Earth Day event, which is coming up soon, on Saturday April 22nd. Music provided by Danimal Sound. Support the Show.

In this week's episode of The Ohio Advocate, Matt and Justin cover H.B. 68, a blatant attack against the rights of transgender children, and S.B. 83, a blatant attack on free speech within Ohio's universities. Both of the bills are sponsored by and being pushed by the Ohio Republican Party. Matt interviews Joshua Schaffer, candidate for Mayor of Akron, about his vision for the city, and how he plans to improve the lives of Akronites. Music has been provided by Danimal Sound. Support the Show.

This week, Matt and Justin discuss House Bill 103, which would force right wing fantasy versions of history into classrooms statewide. They also talk about how scientists are sounding the alarm on fracking wells in Muskingum County, and give multiple updates surrounding the abortion rights ballot initiative here in Ohio. Music provided by Danimal Sound. Support the Show.

In this week's show, Matt and Justin discuss a proposal from Ohio Republicans for tax cuts for the wealthy, and Cincinnati's plan to sell its publicly owned railway to Norfolk Southern for $1.6 billion. Matt interviews Tara Mosley, candidate for Mayor of Akron, about her vision for the city, and how she plans to improve the lives of Akronites. Music has been provided by Danimal Sound. Support the Show.

In this week's episode, Matt and Justin discuss the upcoming Ohio constitutional amendment that would secure abortion rights across the state and the conservative pushback against it. They also give an update on the bribery trial of Larry Householder, Secretary of State Frank LaRose's plan to pull Ohio out of an anti-voter fraud group, and the insane things that Ohio Republicans said at CPAC. Music has been provided by Danimal Sound. Support the Show.

In this week's episode, Matt and Justin dive into the health impacts of the East Palestine derailment disaster, and then talk about the Secretary of Transportation's proposal to stop accidents like this from happening again. They also discuss how Ohio children will lose healthcare access due to the ending of pandemic-era Medicaid enrollment expansion, and how Fox 8 Cleveland's photojournalist union is fighting for higher wages. Music has been provided by Danimal Sound. Support the Show.

This week on The Ohio Advocate, Matt gives a quick update on new information coming out of East Palestine about the train derailment disaster, he talks about a signature gathering campaign to get abortion rights on the ballot this year in Ohio, and an effort led by Republican Attorney Generals to ban the drug Mifepristone from being mailed to patients. For our feature interview, Matt talks with Jeff Swertfeger, from Greater Cincinnati Water Works, about Cincinnati’s preparations to keep their drinking water safe from the chemicals released at the East Palestine rail disaster. Music has been provided by Danimal Sound. Support the Show.

In this week's episode, Matt and Justin give an update on the East Palestine train derailment/environmental disaster, with all the new facts that have come to light since last week's episode. They also discuss Governor DeWine's plan to allow fracking wells to be drilled on state lands. The first in a new series of features with each candidate in the race, Matt interviews Shammas Malik, candidate for Mayor of Akron, about his vision for the city and how he would improve the lives of Akron residents. Music has been provided by Danimal Sound. Support the Show.

In this week's episode, Matt and Justin discuss the devastating train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, as well as it's human and environmental consequences. They also tackle a proposal from Ohio Senate Republicans that would weaken child labor laws, Senate Bill 30. Kevin Naughton talks to Rachel Breece from Project RISE in Akron, about their efforts to assist children within Akron Public Schools that are facing housing insecurity. Music has been provided by Danimal Sound. Support the Show.

In this week's episode, Matt and Justin give an update on the unionization push at REI Cleveland, as well as the unjustified firing of an Amazon warehouse employee in Cincinnati, who was leading the charge to form a union in that warehouse. Chrissy Stonebraker-Martinez interviews Maggie Scotece from the Abortion Fund of Ohio, about the launch of their new legal access program, which offers brief legal advice to our community regarding the rapidly changing legal landscape of reproductive health in Ohio. Music has been provided by Danimal Sound. Support the Show.

On this week's episode, Matt and Justin discuss the trial of former Speaker of the House Larry Householder, over bribery charges stemming from the HB6 / FirstEnergy scandal. They also give an update on the fight for the future of the White Pond wetlands in Akron, Ohio's huge union gains in 2022, and Cleveland City Council's plan to eliminate 190 million dollars worth of medical debt held by Cleveland residents. As always, music has been provided by Danimal Sound. Support the Show.