That's So Cincinnati

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 th...

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 be...

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...

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...

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. Aft...

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...

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 B...

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 sh...

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.  S...

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 exp...

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 corona...

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 a...

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 pol...

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....

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 a...

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...

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...

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 abou...

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 si...

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 overc...

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 m...

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; Cros...

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...

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.