Congresswoman Sykes is Bringing Millions to the Area

Foreign it's the Akron Podcast for May 1, 2026.

Our website, akron podcast.com I don't know about you, but I am a little sticker shocked.

I remember I drive a little Toyota and I remember if I could put $20 into the tank, I'd be like, wow, I must have been really empty.

And you know, we all know the prices are going up.

So we sent Liam out to investigate the gas prices around and here's what he came up with.

Gas prices are rising quickly in Summit county where the average hit about $4.24 per gallon at the end of April according to American Automobile Association.

That's up sharply from $4.13 just a day earlier, $3.86 a month ago and roughly $3.20 this time last year.

So drivers are seeing a steady and noticeable climb across Ohio.

The average for regular gas is about $4.22 with mid grade around $4.71 and premium over $5.21.

So Summit county is right in line with the rest of the state, but still feeling the pinch as prices push past that $4 mark.

If you're looking for relief, the cheapest gas in Summit county is hovering around $3.89 per gallon.

You can find those lower prices at spots like Costco in Boston Heights, BP in Stowe, BP on Britain Road in Akron, RewardsGas and Go in Northfield and BJ's on Home Avenue in Akron.

The bigger picture, global tensions and disruptions in oil supply are driving up crude prices and that's trickling down to the pump.

For now, Summit county drivers should expect higher fill up costs with only a few stations offering prices under $4.

Thank you, Liam.

Yeah, any way you slice it, it still sucks.

And I really appreciate those that have been going out to akronpodcast.com and chipping in to keep the lights on here.

Let's go over to the Fulton Airport.

You know that's the one over by the Akron sign and Derby Downs and what used to be the Rubber Bowl.

And they got some news over there and we are going to be.

Let's see who did the story.

Naya did the story.

Tell us about it, Naya.

Amelia Sykes has announced new federal funding for one of Akron's historic airports.

The Federal Aviation administration is awarding $72,159 to Akron Fulton International Airport for safety upgrades aimed at improving winter operations.

City officials say the money will go toward purchasing a specialized MB3 snow removal vehicle designed to clear runways more efficiently during severe weather.

The equipment includes broom and plow attachments and is expected to improve safety while reducing maintenance costs and manual labor.

Akron Mayor Shammaz Malik says the investment will help keep the airport running safely and reliably year round.

Originally dedicated in 1929, Akron, Fulton is home to the historic Goodyear Air Dock and sits near landmarks like the All American Soapbox Derby and Firestone Country Club.

The airport operates daily from 6am to midnight and provides a range of services including fueling, flight training, aircraft maintenance and charter flights.

Local leaders say this investment will help ensure safer travel for pilots, passengers and airport staff, especially during Northeast Ohio's toughest winter conditions.

Absolutely.

That's right down the street from where I live.

And, you know, Ms. Sykes has been doing the work.

We've got Bill with a story about money.

Thanks to Ms. Sykes coming into downtown.

Akron, New federal funding is headed to Summit county, with several projects in Akron and surrounding areas set to benefit as part of the 2026 appropriations process announced by Emilia Sykes.

The biggest local project includes $1.2 million for improvements along South Main street in downtown Akron.

That project will upgrade roads, sidewalks, lighting and traffic signals, while adding bike lanes, better pedestrian crossings and infrastructure for future fiber communications impacting key locations like Bounce Innovation Hub and Canal Place.

Another major investment sends $1.09 million to the village of Peninsula for a new sanitary sewer system.

This project is designed to protect the Cuyahoga river and support local businesses that could otherwise face closure without improved infrastructure.

And if you're thinking, what the heck, Bill, it's Cuyahoga.

Well, of course, Bill's AI in Akron, $250,000 will go toward improving safety along the East Copley Road corridor, an area identified as having a high crash risk near landmarks like the Akron Zoo and Perkins Park.

And if you look at our resource section, also a great place to get shot.

More on that later.

Beyond infrastructure, health care and housing are also getting support.

Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio will receive $1.85 million to expand family planning and preventive health services, while the East Akron Neighborhood Development Corporation is getting $254,000 to boost affordable housing efforts.

The bottom line, this round of federal funding targets infrastructure, public safety, environmental protection and essential services across Summit County.

So what's interesting about this is I was like, I remember Amelia Sykes and I was like, is she a Democrat or Republican?

So I went out to her website@sykes.house.com so she's, you know, she's.

She's a representative.

She's in the House of Representatives.

And man, if you look at her bio and where she's come from and what she's doing.

She was the, let's see, in 2022, she became the first black person elected to represent Ohio's 13th congressional district, better known as Akron, where she's committed to fighting for economic opportunity, safer communities and affordable healthcare for northeastern Ohioans.

And so I was looking at it.

What's really interesting is on her website you can't tell if she's a Republican or a Democrat.

And I thought about it.

I'm like, you know what, I don't really care as long as she's doing what's good for Akron.

And I was like, so kudos.

Now what's really cool, you can go out and this is one of those things where we need to pay attention to our representatives.

You can go out and click on.

I'll put a link to it in the show notes.

You can go to votes and legislation and see exactly what she voted on and how she voted.

So I love the transparency there.

And when you go in, you will finally figure out for those that care, because I don't.

She's a Democrat.

And I was like, well, kudos for you for bringing millions of dollars into, into Akron, Ohio.

A 14 year old.

14?

Seriously?

Okay.

All right.

A 14 year old has been arrested in connection with a shooting in akron that left two other 14 year olds injured.

According to the Akron Police Department, the suspect was taken into custody by the Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force and is now facing two counts of felonious assault while being held in juvenile detention.

The shooting happened just before 6pm on West Salome Avenue.

Police say the two victims were sitting on a front porch when they were shot.

One in the chest and the other near the pelvis.

Both were found inside and near the front of the home when officers arrived.

Investigators believe this was an isolated incident, not a random act of violence.

Oh, I can't take it, nya, you gotta do this one.

Three people were shot Monday night in Akron's North Hill neighborhood in Summit county and police say no arrests have been made so far.

According to the Akron Police Department, the first victim, a 24 year old man, was shot while sitting in a car on Carlisle street just after 8pm he suffered gunshot wounds to the arm and chest, but his injuries are not considered life threatening.

A 17 year old who was also in the car was taken to the hospital for an unrelated issue.

Police found multiple shell casings at the scene and two nearby homes were also hit by gunfire.

Shortly after, a 20 year old woman showed up at Summa Health, Akron with a gunshot wound to her foot.

She told officers she was walking nearby when she heard shots and realized she'd been hit.

Later that night, a third victim, a 17 year old boy, was taken to the same hospital with a gunshot wound to the neck.

His injuries are also non life threatening and police believe his shooting is connected to the earlier incident.

Investigators say this does not appear to be random and are asking anyone with information to come forward.

So I get it that the murder count is down because of all the shootings.

The last couple we've talked about in this episode and the last episode, people aren't dying and that's great to hear, but has anyone remembered dialogue where you would actually talk to people?

It's crazy.

When I started this show years ago, I had no idea that almost every episode I would be talking about somebody getting shot.

We don't talk sports much here on the show.

I think they're.

I love sports and they teach dedication and hard work to our young kids.

But when we get into professional sports, it's millionaire announcers talking about, you know, millionaire players who are, you know, held together by a billionaire.

And I remember when they first announced the new Brown stadium and they're like, oh, you can't do it because of the Modell Law.

And then somehow, you know, the Haslams got around that and then it was like, well, you can't put a stadium there because of the airport and, and that's in the way.

And then, you know, and then all.

Well, yeah, well, today, May 1st, the Haslams broke ground.

There was a big, you know, breaking ground ceremony.

They dragged out Bernie Kozar, God love him, and Joe Thomas, the, you know, everybody's favorite player.

You know, all what was missing was Brian Sipe, I don't know.

And the Haslams and the governor was there and the one big dog guy that's always in the pound.

So I'm not sure how they got it done.

You know, it's amazing what happens when you have billions of dollars that, I don't know, laws and things just don't seem to affect you.

But they broke ground on the new stadium.

No news.

They just had a bunch of pictures in the Beacon Journal and so give it a couple years and we'll be driving to Brook park for Cleveland Brown games that we probably can't afford because, you know, we're not billionaires.

Hey, let's go over to the events calendar.

Rita's Italian Ice and Frozen Custard.

That's a grand opening tomorrow.

That is on Kenmore boulevard.

The first 50 guests will receive free Italian ice for a year.

So that's a good way to start your Saturday on May 6th at the Goodyear Theater, Fog Hat in Nazareth, and then Nextar national talent competition.

So if you're a singer or some sort of talented person, that's happening at the Civic Theater.

And that's pretty much Friday.

That's this weekend, the 8th through the 10th.

And then next week, Molly Tuttle and Maggie Rose will be at the Kent Stage.

The Leo Kotke.

I'm worried if you're not familiar with Leo Cott.

He's an amazing guitar player and he was set to appear at the Kent Stage, and that has been canceled.

Second time he's done that for health reasons.

So I hate to hear that.

But that's what's coming to the Northeast Ohio area and get out there and have some fun, even if it is a little chilly.