Devo Day? Would You Vote For This?

Today on the Akron Podcast, Spaghetti Warehouse News, Cedar Point News, some shootings, Devo Day, and some more fun at Akron Public Schools. It's the Akron Podcast for May 18, 2026. Our website, akronpodcast.com all right, I know you're going. Did you say Devo Day? Yeah. Check this out.Things must be getting slow for our delegations. You know, our people that are making laws. This is interesting.Ohio lawmakers are officially considering whether to make April 18th devo day in honor of pioneering new wave band Devo. The proposal was introduced by Veronica Sims, who's a Democrat of Akron, and Michelle Grimm of Toledo, also a Democrat, through House Bill 866.If passed, the legislation would officially designate April 18 as Devo Day because the band's first official Performance took place April 18, 1973 at Kent State University during the school's Creative Arts Festival.The bill specifically honors Devo for helping define the new wave sound, reflecting the feelings of a generation and becoming one of Ohio's most influential musical exports.Founded by I think this is right, I know it's Gerald Casale, it's C A S A L E and Mark Mothersbaugh, the band became famous for hits like Whip it, the girl you want, freedom of choice and Beautiful World.Although one of my favorite songs is Mongoloid, the group also became known for its satirical philosophy of de evolution, the idea that society is regressing rather than progressing. And have you seen the videos of the high school kids that can't read? I think they were onto something.Cassell confirmed that April 18, 1973 was indeed the first performance after Mother's Ball joined the band. At the time, they performed as sextet Devo.And while Devo is strongly associated with Akron, Casale noted the bands technically formed in Kent before later migrating to Akron, where the group developed the style and lineup that became internationally famous.The legislation still has to move through committee, pass the Ohio House of Representatives, receive a companion bill in the Senate, and eventually be signed by Mike DeWine. Meanwhile, Devo's hometown celebration is arriving sooner than any official state holiday.The band is scheduled to play and I got my ticket to a sold out show June 3rd at the Akron Civic Theater. Well, it's time to talk about some closures coming to our roads.These are coming from the Ohio Department of Transportation and it is about the first one is about the central interchange, which is such a train wreck. I still can't believe after all the work they've done there that there are still exits, that one is going off and one is coming on.And somebody looked in that and said, yeah, that's fine. But the Central Interchange. These closures occur nightly between 9pm and 5am for bridge painting.This is going to start May 17 and continue through the morning of May 22. So Interstate 77 and State Route 8 north at Central Interchange.The detour will be the Interstate 76 east to Arlington street or Kelly Avenue to I76 west to Route 8 north. In other words, just avoid the interchange. I could go through all these different.You know, when you get there, you're going to have to take a detour that's going to be boring to read to you. So another one. Closures at the Jet Road. This is set during the i77 widening project. This begins on May 18.The ramp from Gent Road to i77 northbound will be closed through early July for pavement reconstruction. The detour will be Gent Row to State Route 18 to I77 North.The street under the All American Bridge is to close, so work is continuing through late August on State Route 261. The All American Bridge repairs beginning May 26. Charles street under State Route 261 will be closed through June 6.The detour will be Howard street to Glenwood Avenue to Turner street, at least for now. Bigger riders who have struggled to fit the Millennium Force at Cedar Point may have an explanation that has nothing to do with weight gain.Because you went, hey, I used to fit this ride last year. I swear I didn't gain weight.Well, Cedar Point has confirmed that the seat belts currently installed on the coaster are shorter than the manufacturer's intended specifications. Park spokesman Tony Clark said the belt, supplied by coaster manufacturer Intamin, are being replaced in the coming weeks.The issue has repeatedly caused longer loading times and some riders being turned away because the belts would not buckle. That's gotta be embarrassing, including guests who said they rode the coaster last season without problems.And I'm telling you, I didn't gain any weight. Fu opened in 2000, the Millennium Force became the world's first giga coaster.Topping 300ft tall with a 93 mile per hour top speed, it was one of the tallest, fastest and longest drop coasters in the world and remains one of Cedar Point's signatures attractions. So if you were there and went home really depressed because you're like, I swear I didn't gain any weight. Well, you didn't. It's the seat belt.We've got some sad news for those that like pasta. The Spaghetti Warehouse in Akron announced it's closing its doors.We talked about earlier how that one company was expanding and they weren't sure what they're going to do as they took over the building there at 510 S. Main St. Their Facebook post said. It's hard to put into words, but with heavy hearts we share that our time at Spaghetti Warehouse Akron is coming to an end, the post said.The restaurant's final day will be May 17, which probably by the time you hear this has already happened, the post continued. The place has never just been about food.It's been about laughter echoing through birthday dinners, family traditions carried year after year, busy lunches, late dinners and so many shared moments that we'll never forget. A limited menu will be available on the days leading to the closure.The restaurant, which had announced in November 1992 that it would open in Akron, was located in the historic B.F. goodrich warehouse building. It is close to the heart of downtown and surrounding businesses, including Akron General Hospital and down the street from 717 Credit Union Park.The company was founded in 1972 and had multiple locations throughout the country. Its website shows 2 Romaine in Dayton and Toledo. So one restaurant closes and then we got this news. A new restaurant is coming to downtown Akron.Crafty Steers is shaping up to be more than just another downtown restaurant. It's being positioned as part of the broader effort to reconnect and energize downtown Akron.The owner is Bryant Steerer and he's transforming the long vacant former Ohio Brewing company space next to Lock three into a two story destination. And it's going to have a restaurant, a bar, family friendly games, a storefront market, an event space and grab and go foods and gift baskets.Now the location is sat mostly empty since 2012, making the reopening significant for downtown Akron and for great foot traffic and street level activity. Kimberly Beckett said filling vacant storefronts is critical because Akron's downtown it stretches across several separate activity zones.Even though the Downtown has nearly 100 businesses, these physical gaps between them, it makes the area feel less active than it actually is.The idea behind projects like Crafty Steer is to create more density, more reasons for people to walk and linger and eat and stay downtown instead of treating it as a place they quickly pass through. The food side of the business also taps into some acronostalgia.Steer revived recipes from the former West Point Market, including cheese spreads, chicken salad, egg salad and baked goods like killer brownies. He already operates markets in Talmadge and Fairlawn and sells products through the Springside Athletic Club.Steer says he hopes the downtown site becomes both a lunch destination and and an event venue, which also will help reinforce the idea that downtown Akron is becoming active again.The timing also lines up with larger redevelopment efforts nearby, including plans by the University of Akron to improve access to the Polsky Building from South Main street.After investing roughly $400,000 into renovations, including support from the Downtown Akron Development Corporation, STIR hopes to open by the end of May. Now if you want to see what this looks like, I'll put a link to this.This originally was on Akron Signal site and now it's time to talk about the Akron Public Schools because they had planned a round of staffing cuts and that's been temporarily postponed after the Akron Board of Education split 5 to 2 against the approving of the reductions. Monday night only board president Barbara Sykes and and board member Phil Montgomery voted in favor of the approach of the proposed cuts.Now, the debate wasn't really about whether the cuts are necessary.District leaders say the APS is facing a projected $37 million deficit by the 20282029 school year, but rather about how the reductions are being evaluated and and present it, which for me sounds like a good idea.Now Vice President Renee Molinoir said she could not support eliminating student facing positions without a clear explanation of what non student facing reductions had also been considered. Good for you, Renee.Board member Gregory Harrison echoed that concern, arguing the board should evaluate the full $11 million reduction package together instead of voting separately on staff cuts. There's a novel idea. The proposed reductions included six dean positions, so assistant principal type roles, six paraprofessional positions.Yeah, let's find out what those are. Four library technician jobs and one art therapist position. Art therapist? Is that the art teacher?Anyway, district officials said affected employees could apply for other openings within aps. That's always weird. We're going to cancel you as a vice principal, but if you want to, I don't know, do this other thing anyway.Administrators noted that there are currently dozens of paraprofessional vacancies district wide. All right.Other cut costing ideas include reducing supply and textbook spending, leaving vacancies unfulfilled and bringing some contracted services in house.Sykes expressed frustration with the delay, warning that the district already committed to reductions as part of the financial discussion with the state auditor.She argued board members seeking additional analysis should specify exactly what the information like what are you looking for to help make this decision? I get that.Mary Outley said that her administration will continue working with the board before future votes and emphasized that long term financial pressure is tied partly to Ohio school funding system.Outlee also made public school funding one of her major priorities, arguing districts like APS continue struggling because the state's fair school funding formula has not fully kept pace with the rising education cost, especially staffing expenses. The district is expected to submit another financial update to the state in June.The Cleveland Orchestra has added a major classical music event to the 2026 Blossom Music Festival lineup, a July 9 performance with legendary violinist Itzhak Perlman. This guy is insanely talented. The concert, titled An Evening with Itzhak Perlman because they couldn't come up with anything better. Why not?Will take place at Blossom Music center at 7pm and will feature an all Ludwig van Beethoven program. The appearance is especially notable because it marks Perelman's first performance with the orchestra at Blossom since 1993.Perelman, widely regarded as one of the greatest violinists of the modern era, has earned 16 Grammys, four Emmys and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Born in 1945, he later moved to New York to study at the Juilliard school at age 13.The July 9 program will include Beethoven's Romance 1, Romance 2 for violin and orchestra, the Egmont Overture and Symphony No. 7.Perlman will both perform and conduct portions of the evening, including leading the orchestra through Beethoven's sweeping 7th Symphony to close the concert. Anybody else going wait, not fifth? Not Moonlight Sonata? Well, that's not really. That's a piano thing.But this dude's an if you love orchestra and if you love violin, this is a must see. And to have it at Blossom is even better.Oh man, we went a couple episodes without one of these, but the Akron Police Department and the Summit County Medical Examiner's Office are investigating a fatal shooting that happened Thursday near Marcy street and Cole Avenue in Akron. Police say officers and EMS responded about 7:20pm now is it just me? I just thought the bad guys came out at night about 3am like it's 7:30.Like Wheel of Fortune is on. This happened on May 14th after reports of gunfire in the area. Responders found Riceen Carter in the driver's seat of a Jeep Latitude.He was pronounced dead at the scene. The medical examiner determined Carter, 40, died from multiple gunshot wounds. That's so sad. My heart goes out to the family.A 36 year old woman was also found nearby suffering from a gunshot wound to the hip. Officers rendered aid before she was transported by the Akron Fire Department to a local hospital, authorities said.Her injuries are believed to be non life threatening. Now investigators are asking anyone with information to Contact Akron Police detectives at 330-375-2490 or 330375, the number 2 tip.Anonymous tips can also be submitted through the Summit County Crime Stoppers at 330-434-COPS or by texting TIPSCO TIPSCO to 274637. That's a whole lot of numbers. I'll have a link in the show notes.You can also do this through the Akron Police app or by visiting akron cops.org Again, my heart goes out to the Carter family.These are sad to report on, but the 70 year old bar owner of the North Hill Game Day Grill, it's on North Main street got shot Saturday just before 10pm when you guessed it, an argument escalated to shooting and basically it started inside the bar. They shot the owner who is in okay condition. He was shot in the stomach, hospitalized, and he's in a stable condition.So we'll have to see how that goes. But calls came in that there have been shots outside the bar as well.And as always, you can call 330375, the number two tip, to let the police know if you have any additional information on this. All right, I'm a little confused on this. Remember when there was that shooting, bunch of people got shot in Bath Township. This was in 2025.Some people actually died there. And one of them that was shot and wounded was Brooklyn Diner, I believe is how you pronounce that name.And they filed suit in Summit County Common Pleas Court and they're suing Airbnb. Get that? I guess the homeowner. The homeowner, that's the one. I'm like, what did they have to do with it?And unidentified party organizers listed as John and Jane Doe.Now the lawsuit argues the short term rental should never have been operating because it allegedly violated a 2014 Bath Township zoning regulation prohibiting short term rentals. Okay, so I could see if that's true. The homeowner is, you know, that's a problem.And it says, according to the complaint, the shooting was a foreseeable outcome of hosting a large, loosely regulated party at the property.That's the one I go, wait a minute, so if a bunch of people come over to your house for a campfire, are we to just assume someone's going to get shot? Now that's how we operate now in Akron. I don't know about that one.The event, promoted online as a mansion birthday party with free alcohol, took place Nov. 2 at a home on Top O Hill Drive. During the shooting, 18 year old Elijah Wells was shot eight times and later died from his injuries. And eight others survived.Deener says she suffered multiple gunshot wounds along with lasting physical and psychological trauma. Absolutely. She is represented by Jack Morrison and is seeking damages that are going to be determined at the trial.Now, the lawsuit also cites other Ohio shootings connected to short term rental properties as evidence that the risks were known or should have been anticipated. I'm not. I'm still not buying that one. I don't know. Meanwhile, the criminal cases against the alleged shooters. The alleged shooters?Yeah, they charged three people and all three face murder, felonious assault charges. One man, Dominic Smith, who was initially charged in juvenile court, is now being prosecuted as an adult. A pre trial hearing is scheduled for May 21.The 8,100 square foot house where the shooting occurred is currently listed for sale for about 1.5 million. I just signed up for this, if you didn't know this. I love the Civic Theater and they've been asking for this. A lot of people have and they are back.What is that? A monthly free tour of the Civic. How cool is that?If you want to see the theater's nooks and crannies and learn more about its design and its history, join the associate director, Val Renner for an hour and a half tour to reveal its secrets. The tour is free, but you must register. The tours recur approximately once a month. If you can't make this one, I'll put a link to the article here.You can sign up there. It says now we love the little ones, but this tour is geared towards adults and not for anyone under 14. So if, if that's you and you're 14 or.Well, if you're 14, you're good. If you're under 14, yeah, maybe wait for a different type of tour, but I'm excited. I already signed up.I've also reached out to the Civic because it was a great announcement. They didn't say what time is the tour. All right, we got one story left.This was supposed to be in last week's episode where due to construction on my house, I had to use AI voices. So we're going to give this one over to Liam about the trash facility.

The proposed agreement between the city of Akron and WM is essentially an attempt to balance two competing realities.Residents in Middlebury have spent decades complaining about odor, truck traffic, noise and pollution from the existing transfer station on Fountain Street. Residents in East Akron want guarantees that the new facility on Archwood Avenue won't simply move those same problems into their neighborhood.The deal tries to address both concerns at once.Key parts of the agreement WM would permanently close the current Fountain street transfer station within 90 days after the new Archwood facility opens. A deed restriction would prevent future waste transfer operations at the Fountain street property.WM would contribute $1 million over 10 years to a community controlled improvement fund covering both Middlebury and East Akron. The company would also contribute $40,000 annually for Joy park for as long as the new facility operates.Truck routes would be restricted to reduce neighborhood traffic impacts. WM would have to provide annual public reports and maintain a formal complaint process.The agreement includes youth partnerships, community cleanups and other community benefit provisions.The politics around the deal appear to center on whether the financial commitments are large enough relative to WM's size and the long history of complaints.Mark A. Tibbs said the proposal comes very close to meeting community priorities, but argued the compensation is too small given what residents near Fountain street endured over decades. Johnny Hanna also questioned whether $1 million over a decade is sufficient for a company valued in the billions.City officials defended the amount by arguing that the community benefits package is unusually large compared with similar projects nationally.The city pushed for direct reparations during negotiations and delaying approval could keep the older Fountain street facility operating into 2028 or beyond, according to the city.If Akron City Council approves the agreement quickly and permits are issued on time, construction at 1400 Archwood Avenue could be completed sometime in 2027.

And I would love to get some Kind of Boots on the Ground report from someone who lives now around the current facility. Go out to akronpodcast.com voicemail and you can leave me a voicemail.We'll play it here on the show because I'd love to hear what it's really like to live next to that facility. As I record this, don't forget that tomorrow the State of the City that's Mayor Malik at the Civic Theater that opens at 5 and then on the 22nd.That's the 19th and then May 22nd.River Butcher will be doing comedy at the Night Stage and and Steve Earle 51 Years of Songs and Stories that will be at the Goodyear Theater on May 28th. For more great entertainment that's coming to Akron, go to akronpodcast.com events.