All Sides

More than 200 data centers are located across Ohio. The rapid rate of data center expansion brings to the forefront a host of issues, from land use to power and water consumption to economic benefits.

Are data centers good for Ohio? Today, we’re talking about the pros and cons of data centers and how Ohio is addressing them, as rural residents and others mobilize in hopes of bringing the issue to voters.

The Ohio Newsroom has been working on a year-long investigation into volunteer firefighting departments in the state. Results show their deaths are higher, training standards lower and recruitment is plummeting.

Ohio’s volunteer fire departments face many challenges The Ohio Newsroom has been working on a year-long investigation into volunteer firefighting departments in the state.

Fascinating Ohio: A Tribe for Jazz, EnergizeCare, and Marion Matters

Guests:

Stephanie Matthews, executive director, A Tribe for Jazz

Dr. Ken Vitellas, founder, EnergizeCare

Natalie Longmeier, executive director, Marion Matters, Inc.

Listen here:

https://www.wosu.org/show/all-sides/2026-05-28/fascinating-ohio-a-jazz-nonprofit-leader-a-radiologist-an-anti-poverty-program-leader

Is enough being done to prevent serious traffic crashes in central Ohio?

Guests:

Katherine Swidarski, Vision Zero coordinator, Vision Zero Columbus

Angela Harden, research and assistant professor, The Ohio State University School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences

Ginger Tornes, founder, Friends and Families for Safe Streets Columbus

Listen here:

https://www.wosu.org/show/all-sides/2026-05-28/is-enough-being-done-to-prevent-serious-traffic-crashes-in-central-ohio

For this week's Fascinating Ohio, we're talking to a jazz preservationist, a radiologist who is using a loved one's health challenge to help others and someone who is on a mission to help people get out of poverty.

Fascinating Ohio: a jazz nonprofit leader, a radiologist, an anti-poverty program leader On this week's Fascinating Ohio, we're meeting the leader of a jazz nonprofit, a radiologist and the executive director of a program aimed at helping families get out of poverty.

According Ohio State Highway Patrol's crash database, since Jan. 1, there have already been more than 8,000 traffic crashes in Franklin County. Officials say that's a decrease from last year. The results might be promising for highway traffic, however Columbus streets remain a significant risk for pedestrians and cyclists, especially on wide, high traffic roads like Morse Road and High Street.

Is enough being done to prevent serious traffic crashes in central Ohio? We will learn more about what changes Columbus officials are trying to make to improve traffic safety on this hour of All Sides.

We talked about the upcoming World Cup, the latest news with the Columbus Crew, and the growth of soccer in the United States.

Guests:

Michael Arace, sports journalist and founder, Disrespected Media, The Disrespected

Ryan Chen, assistant professor, sports leadership and management, Miami University

Listen here:

https://www.wosu.org/show/all-sides/2026-05-27/whats-columbus-connection-with-this-years-world-cup

Although Columbus is not hosting official tournament matches, the city is heavily involved in World Cup festivities, from a current Crew player to featuring a pre-tournament friendly match, international base camps and city-wide watch parties. The Ecuador national team is also training in Columbus.

What's Columbus' connection with this year's World Cup? Columbus Crew midfielder Max Arfsten has been selected for the United States men’s team for this year's World Cup.

Wait Wait Don't Tell Me host Peter Sagal is on All Sides at 10 a.m. Listen on 89.7 NPR News.

'Wait Wait...Don’t Tell Me!' host Peter Sagal Peter Sagal is coming to Columbus on June 7 for an evening of storytelling at the Southern Theatre.

We’re excited to welcome Peter Sagal, the host of NPR's Wait Wait Don't Tell Me, to All Sides on Wednesday at 10 a.m. on 89.7 NPR News.

Join us as we talk with Peter about his upcoming evening of storytelling in Columbus on June 7, as well as the news, political comedy and the retirement of longtime Wait Wait official judge and scorekeeper Bill Kurtis.