WTOL 11 Leading Edge

With March Madness upon us, we talk gaming here in Ohio (the gambling kind) with Jessica Franks from the Ohio Casino Control Commission. Plus, talking about how an area 85-year-old man got the ball rolling on those sports gaming kiosks with Tatum Lenavitt, Director of Marketing for UBetOhio.

March 11, 2023: What's fair, when it comes to housing? We talk about “Zip Code Matters” a new documentary, from The Fair Housing Center of Toledo. 

Consumers Energy Vice President of Electric Distribution discusses last week's ice storm in southeast Michigan; Toledo Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz discusses the state of the city, including what his administration.

Retired Toledo Police Chief Jack Smith and TPD Captain Joe Heffernan talk about Toledo’s “Trail of Terror” on February 13, 1998, one of Toledo's most tragic days; Dr. Kristie Jenkins talks about trauma, the response to it, and the treatment.

Bob Weinberg and Steve Schult with Flag City Honor Flight talk about this year's schedule; Earl Mack and Fred LeFebvre of The Buffalo Soldiers talk about the work they do around the Toledo area.

Karen Ranney Wolkins with the city’s Parks & Youth Services talks about summer youth programs in the Arts, Theatre, Spoken word, sports, construction. Tiffany McNair, Housing Commissioner for City of Toledo talks about new funding the city received to help residents pay their rent.  Dr. Heminder Singh with Toledo Cardiology Consultants and Mercy Health talks about heart disease in the com...

Newly-elected Lucas County Commissioner Lisa Sobecki talks about the long-delayed plan for a new jail. Steve Miller; General Manager of the Glass City Center talks about all the changes at the convention center and his hopes for the kind of events it can attract to the city; New Lake Twp. Fire Chief Barrett Dorner discusses his new position.

Robert Smith talks about the African-American Legacy Project, which collects stories from members of the community to preserve African-American history in the area.   Lisa Kronbach-Eisenbach and Terry Hogan talk about the mission of Nightingales Harvest Cancer Family Pantry.  Author and Social worker Lashanna Alfred talks about women's empowerment.

Toledo’s new interim police chief Michael Troendle talks about his first week on the job and his plans for the department under his leadership.   New city prosecutor Rebecca Facey talks about her passion for domestic violence law.

Dr. Marvin Whitfield with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwestern Ohio. Entrepreneur Will Lucas and Touchstone Award winner talks about where he thinks local business in Toledo is heading. Steven Lewis, from Emergency Heartbeat CPR, talks about the importance of learning life-saving skills.

Retiring Toledo Police Chief George Kral talks about his experiences after decades of service with TPD - what has changed, what he has accomplished, and what's next for his career.

New District 41 State Representative Josh Williams talks about what led him into politics and what he is hoping to accomplish. Advocates Rachel Gagnon, from Lucas Metropolitan Housing, and Michael Hart, from the Lucas County Homelessness Board, talk about homelessness in northwest Ohio.

How small businesses are handling the challenges in the economy today. Wendy Gramza with Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce.  Cases of Seasonal Affective Disorder on the rise with colder weather. Dr. Rajiv Parinja, Psychiatrist at Mercy Health.  New Lucas County Canine Care and Control Shelter. Lucas County Commissioner Tina Skeldon-Wozniak

Todd James, Ex. Dir. of the Red Cross of North Central Ohio talks about responding to natural disasters.  Former Oregon Fire Chief Dennis Hartman and his replacement, Chief Clayton O'Brien talk about the Oregon Fire and Rescue Department's brand new fire station on Wynn Rd.  Lucas County Children Services' Julie Malkin talks about a very successful Gift of Joy toy drive.

Author Kevin Hazzard talks his book American Sirens, which tells the story of the world’s first paramedics, a group of black men in Pittsburgh.  Rob Dodson with Master Fluid Solutions talks about the spirit of giving at work. Ohio Guidestone Therapist Shelly Kepford talks about grief and loss around the holidays.

Leading Edge takes a look at the movement to allow 16 and 17-year-olds to vote with Chuck Corra from Generation Citizen; also, new NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) rules in effect at college athletic programs with University of Toledo Associate Athletic Director for Compliance, Brian Lutz.

UT Associate Professor of Political Science Sam Nelson talks about the mid-term elections and what they mean for the major political parties going forward.   Clinical Dietian Kelly Layton and Rita Sowinski from Mercy Health talk about Diabetes Awareness Month.

Local farmers, Keith Truckor and Denny Vennekotter, talk about how high inflation is affecting their business. President of Ohio Realtors, John Mangas,  talks about it’s the  effect oh higher mortgage rates on the housing market. Marsha Rose and Arcelia Armstrong, with the Area Office on Aging, talk about their Caregiver Expo.

Sam Nelson, University of Toledo Political Science Dept. talks about November’s election Pat McColley, District Deputy Director of ODOT talks about the I-475 construction project Jodi Gross, Ex. Director of East Toledo Family Center

Guests share personal stories to highlight importance of adoption and the importance of CPR.   Bruce Tronolone - life was saved by a quick acting bystander   Tymeeka Gipson - Adoption supervisor with Lucas County Children's Services   Larry and Regina Mack - Adoptive couple  

Diedre Lashley, Executive Director of Bethany House talks about Domestic Violence Awareness Month… Jared Bryan with Dana talks about what the move to EV automobiles means for the company… Author Chris Bores talks about ghosts in the Glass City

D. Paul Zito with Regional Growth Partnership, talks about how local companies can go global.  Also, Tim O’Donnell from Eugene F. Kranz Toledo Express Airport talks about the importance of passenger traffic out of Toledo Express.

The total solar eclipse is coming to Wood County and one local expert says people need to be prepared for the influx of visitors who will almost certainly be coming into the area for the rare event.

This week on Leading Edge, Dan talks veterans. Bob Weinberg, Director of Flag City Honor Flight, and  Charles Hiser  with the Lucas County Veterans Services Commission

Jeff Clegg - President CEO of Toledo Memorial Park on September 11 remembrance  Tess Healy - Coordinator of Momentum Art and Culture Festival  Dr. Marvin Whitfield - on Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Northwest Ohio