Akron police search for suspects, motive in mass shooting | Journalists' roundtable

Akron police say they are still piecing together what happened during a mass shooting at a street party in the East Akron neighborhood early Sunday morning.

One person died and police now say 27 people were injured. Two of them are still in critical condition. A vigil for the victims and the community was held Thursday evening.

The Cleveland City Council approved a law this week that doubles campaign finance contribution limits for individuals and businesses. Council President Blaine Griffin says it's about keeping pace with inflation. But the law's passage was not without controversy.

Gov. Mike DeWine signed two bills this week that passed during the recent special session of the Legislature he ordered. One of them changes the candidate certification deadline by 90 days, ensuring that President Joe Biden will be on the Ohio ballot in November. The other prohibits foreign nationals from contributing to electoral campaigns.

Cuyahoga County voters will decide in November whether to more than double the county's cigarette tax to support arts and culture. The county council approved moving the measure to a vote at its meeting this week. Money raised from the tax supports artists and nonprofit arts organizations, including Ideastream Public Media.

Summer is just beginning, but the dates for Ohio's expanded sales tax holiday have been announced. The holidays still come at a time when parents are doing their back-to-school shopping for their children. Lawmakers expanded the tax exemption in last year's budget. The governor's office says the tax holiday will run from July 30 to August 8.

We'll discuss these and other stories from the week during Friday's “Sound of Ideas Journalists' Roundtable.”

Guests:
-Karen KaslerStatehouse News Bureau Chief, Ohio Public Radio/Television
-Maréchal Abbeyjournalist, Ideastream Public Media
-Abigail Bottarjournalist, Ideastream Public Media