WTOL 11 Leading Edge

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

Kevin Dalton, President of the Toledo Federation of Teachers and Lori Reffert from Toledo Public Schools talk about the nationwide teacher shortage and what it means for local schools.   Adrian City Administrator Greg Elliott talks about what is being done for the residents of the Riverview Terrace Apartment Complex, which has been deemed unsafe.   Gretchen Awad, Director of Northwest Oh...

Sylvania Mayor Craig Stough (R) talks about his 26 years in the office and the what he sees for the future of the city. Bryan Blair, UT athletic director, looks forward to his first Rocket football season as the leader of University of Toledo Athletics.

Pat McColley with the Ohio Dept. of Transportation talks about road projects around the area including the DiSalle Bridge replacement. Lucas County Treasurer Lindsay Webb talks about the demolition of the old Rosemary Apartments building. Amy Boros award winning teacher at Hull Prairie Intermediate School.

Lucas County Health Commissioner Eric Zgodzinski talks about Monkeypox cases in Lucas County.  Penny Tullis and Jonathan Dorcely with the City of Toledo’s Human Relations Commission.

BGSU Political Science professor Sam Melden, Safe Kids Greater Toledo's Gina Veres, ProMedica Oncologist Dr. David Macari

Sonya Quinn from NAMI Greater Toledo. Jeanne Wingate, board member with Ovarian Cancer Connection. Billy Mann from Boys and Girls Clubs of Toledo. 

WTOL 11 chief investigator Brian Dugger talks about the Cedar Point dorm sexual harassment allegations. Motivational speaker and advocate for Alopecia patients McKenna Reitz.

City of Toledo Commissioner of Economic Development Brandon Selhorst talks about the past future projects happening around the city. Alan Lancz talks about investing during a time of rising inflation and rising interest rates.

David Bush, Commissioner of the City of Toledo's Save our Community initiative talks about getting a handle on gun violence in the city with Isaac Miles, one of the city's violence interrupters. Attorney Rex Elliott talks about the civil case against Bowling Green State University after the death of student Stone Foltz.

Dr. James Price, from the University of Toledo talks about H.B. 99, which authorizes schools to arm teachers, as well as gun legislation going through Congress. Heidi Fought, executive director of the Ohio Townships Association, talks about house rentals and who is in charge of regulating them.

Democratic candidate for governor and former Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley talks about her plans for the state including her plans for a $350 inflation rebate for Ohioans. Lake Erie Waterkeeper Sandy Bihn talks about the new documentary the Erie Situation and what has led to the algae blooms in Lake Erie.

Commissioner of Toledo's Department of Parks and Recreation Karen Ranney Wolkins talks about activities for young people in the city. University of South Carolina basketball star Zia Cooke talks about winning the national championship and her days at Rogers High School in Toledo.