>>> LAWMAKERS FACE A DEADLINE AND SILICON VALLEY SPREADS TO CENTRAL OHIO.

CAPTIONS PROVIDED BY WOSU-TV, THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY >>> JOINING US ON "COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD" THIS WEEK.

KAREN KASLER FOR OHIO PUBLIC RADIO AND TV.

SAM GRESHAM OF COMMON CAUSE OHIO AND MARK WEAVER.

REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST.

TO NO ONE'S SURPRISE COMING DOWN TO THE WIRE FOR OHIO'S REDISTRICTING COMMISSION TO COME UP WITH A REVISED MAP FOR OHIO'S STATE LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT.

THE SUPREME COURT GAVE THE COMMISSION UNTIL SATURDAY TO PRESENT THE NEW MAP.

THE COURT SENT A CLEAR MESSAGE THE OLD MAPS BENEFITED REPUBLICANS BY TOO WIDE A MARGIN.

THE COURT SAID THE COMMISSION SHOULD TRY AGAIN TO COME CLOSE TO THE 47% TO 56% ADVANTAGE IN OHIO.

MEMBERS CAME UP WITH REVISED COUNTY-LEVEL MAPS.

AS OF LATE FRIDAY AFTERNOON NO AGREEMENT ON A STATE-WIDE MAP.

WHAT IS THE LATEST, KAREN KASLER?

ARE THEY GOING TO MEET THE SATURDAY DEADLINE?

>> AS OF FRIDAY AFTERNOON, AS YOU SAID.

NO MEETING.

THE 9:30 MEETING THIS MORNING WAS DELAYED AND THE BIG INTEL ANNOUNCEMENT TALKING ABOUT LATER IS PROBABLY PART OF THAT BECAUSE MANY OF THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION ARE AT THAT EVENT.

DOING A DATA-HEAVY MEETING TO TALK ABOUT WHAT DISTRICTS ARE GOING TOING WHO LIKE MAY NOT HAVE BEEN ON THE MINDS OF FOLKS WHO ARE ON THAT COMMISSION THIS MORNING.

BUT I THINK THAT WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IS A DEADLINE THAT'S GOING TO GET PUSHED.

I THINK, YOU KNOW WHEN IT FIRST CAME OUT THAT THE DEADLINE WAS SATURDAY, A LOT OF PEOPLE ASSUMED MONDAY.

THAT'S HOW A LOT OF GOVERNMENT BUSINESS IT DONE.

HOLD A SATURDAY DEADLINE, THAT DEADLINE IS HOURS AWAY, AND SO I HATE TO MAKE ANY PREDICTIONS, SINCE I KNOW WE'RE GOING INTO THIS WEEKEND, BUT THIS COULD BE POTENTIALLY A LONG WEEKEND IF THEY'RE REALLY TRYING TO GET THOSE MAPS DONE BY MONDAY, OR SATURDAY.

>> SAND GRESHAM, VERY MUCH INVOLVED IN THIS PROCESS THROUGH THE WORK OF COMMON CAUSE OHIO.

HOW OPTIMISM ARE YOU THEY WILL MEET THE DEAD LINE AND COME UP WITH A MAP THAT IS, HAS A DIFFERENT PERCENTAGE, REPUBLICANS-DEMOCRATS, THAN THE OLD MAPS?

>> MIKE, NO CONFIDENCE THEY WILL DO IT BY THE DEADLINE.

WE KNEW IN THE BEGINNING WHEN THEY RESPONDED TO THE COURT THAT THEY WERE NOT GOING TO TAKE IT SERIOUSLY.

THEY HAVE NOT COMMITTED THEMSELVES IN THIS WHOLE PROCESS TO TAKE THE CONSTITUTION SERIOUSLY.

I HOPE THEY TAKE THE, SUPREME COURT SERIOUSLY.

>> HOW DO YOU VIEW THIS?

INCENTIVE, POLICY FOR COMMISSION TO GET THIS THING DONE?

POLITICALLY OR LEGALLY?

>> WELL, TWO DIFFERENT QUESTIONS.

LEGALLY THERE'S NOT.

THIS IS A CONFLICT BETWEEN TWO BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT POLITICALLY, MIGHT BE.

ALTHOUGH MOST PEOPLE IN OHIO TALK ABOUT THINGS LIKE INFLATION AND GAS PRICES AND THE VACCINES AND COVID.

THEY DON'T TALK ABOUT REDISTRICTING.

I REMIND VIEWERS LAST YEAR THE U.S. SUPREME COURT SAID FEDERAL COURTS WILL NOT STEP INTO REDISTRICTING BECAUSE THE SUPREME COURT CALLED THIS A POLITICAL QUESTION.

IT'S CALLED A POLITICAL QUESTION DOCTRINE.

SO WHERE LINES ARE DRAWN IS INHERENTLY A POLITICAL QUESTION AND NOW, I TRUST THE SPEAKER IN THE HOUSE TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND GET THIS RESOLVED.

>> KAREN KASLER, FIRST MAPS, THE GOVERNOR PREDICTED THEY WOULDN'T PASS THE SUPREME COURT'S MUSTER.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE WAS QUOTED SAYING ACCORDING TO TESTIMONY THAT THE PROCESS WAS ASININE, ACCORDING TO THE CASE BEFORE THE SUPREME COURT.

HOW MUCH OF A ROLE HAS THOSE TWO FOLKS PLAYED IN THIS PROCESS, DO YOU KNOW?

>> WELL, THEY DIDN'T SPEAK AT THE FIRST MEETING.

DeWINE LAID OUT WHAT THE CONSTITUTION AND RULING FROM THE SUPREME COURT REALLY, HE FELT SAD, THE COMMISSION, IT WAS THE COMMISSION'S CHARGE AND WHEN THAT WHOLE 46%, 54% REPUBLICAN VERSUS DEMOCRAT SPLIT CAME UP.

DEMOCRATS ARE WORKING FROM THAT.

MAPS THAT ACHIEVE THAT SPLIT AND PRESENTED MAPS THAT DEALT WITH JUST TWO SPECIFIC REGIONS.

FRANKLIN UNION COUNTY AND HAMILTON AND WARREN COUNTY.

THOSE MAPS THEY SAID THEY COULD PUSH OUT TO GET THAT SPLIT.

REPUBLICANS HAVE NOT YET TOLD US WHAT THEIR SPLIT LOOKS LIKE AND HOW MANY SEATS THEY'RE POTENTIALLY GIVING UP FROM THAT PREVIOUS MAP WHICH WAS A MAP THAT WOULD HAVE GIVEN 64% OF LEGISLATIVE SEATS TO REPUBLICANS.

SO WE'RE STILL WAITING FOR THAT BREAKDOWN.

ALSO REPUBLICANS HAVE SAID THERE IS NO MAP THAT HAS BEEN SUBMITTED OR EXISTS RIGHT NOW THAT MEETS ALL THE CONSTITUTIONAL CRITERIA INCLUDING THAT SPLIT.

AND OCLU SAID, YES, THERE IS.

SUBMITTED AS PART OF THEIR LAWSUIT AGAINST THE STATE OVER THIS.

THAT IT WAS ACTUALLY DEVELOPED AND TESTED.

THEY SAY IT EXISTS.

WHETHER THAT MAP EXISTS AND THEY CAN WORK OFF THAT MAP OR TRYING TO START FROM SCRATCH, I THINK THAT'S STILL ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S FRUSTRATING ABOUT THIS FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE, IT'S NOT A TRANSPARENT PROCESS AND WE DON'T KNOW WHAT REALLY HAPPENING.

>> SAM, DO YOU HAVE A NUMBER YOU WOULD SUPPORT, IS IT 54% REPUBLICAN?

56%, 58%.

>> A NUMBER WE CALCULATED BASED ON THE DATA WE SAW.

BY THE WAY, THEY ARE INCORRECT.

THERE ARE SEVERAL MAPS THAT MEET THOSE CRITERIAS THAT WERE PUT TOGETHER.

NOW, LET ME REMIND YOU, A PART OF THE PROCESS WAS THAT THE COMMUNITY COULD SUBMIT, MIKE, MAPS.

THERE ARE LOTS OF COMMUNITY GROUPS THAT HAVE SUBMITTED MAPS THAT MEET THEIR CRITERIA, RIGHT ON, ON THE HAIR.

SO, NO.

MAPS EXIST.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S REALLY BOTHERED ME ABOUT THIS PROCESS, AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS EVERYBODY LENT IN TODAY'S POLITICS.

PEOPLE LIE WITHOUT IMPUNITY.

PEOPLE THINK IT'S OKAY TO LIE WITHOUT IMPUNITY.

THE LIKE WE'RE PLAYING A GAME, INFORMATION THAT EXISTS, IT HAS, AND WE TRIED TO SHARE IT WITH THEM, BUT THEY REJECTED IT.

SO I HOPE AS A PRIVATE PROCESS THEY STOP LYING.

>> REPUBLICANS IN THIS PROCESS HAD GONE FOR A SLIGHTLY LESS PERCENTAGE THAN, YOU KNOW, 64% ARE 65%, THEY MIGHT HAVE AVOIDED THIS?

>> WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE INDEX AS USED TO PREDICT WHO'S GOING TO WIN A DISTRICT, A LOT OF IT GOES INTO HOW WOULD YOU CALCULATE THAT?

THERE ARE AGREED UPON FORMULAS BUT THEY'RE NOT SET IN STONE.

HERE'S WHAT WE DO KNOW.

OHIO'S TRENDING A REPUBLICAN STATE.

WE'VE ELECTED NEARLY ALL REPUBLICAN STATEWIDE FOR A DECADE OR MORE.

WE SEEM TO BE BRO INGGROWING MORE REPUBLICAN ALL THE TIME.

WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED IF BOTH HOUSES HAVE LEGISLATIVE MAJORITIES THAT FAVOR REPUBLICANS.

>> AND BARACK OBAMA, TWICE WITHIN THE PAST 10 TO 15 YEARS.

RAN DEMOCRATS STATEWIDE.

DIFFERENT RACE, BUT STILL DEMOCRATS HAVE WON THERE.

WHAT HAPPENS IF THEY DON'T MEET THE DEADLINE, DON'T EXTENDED THE DEADLINE?

WHAT'S THE PENALTY?

BACK TO THE SUPREME COURT?

>> THE SUPREME COURT HAS JURISDICTION.

DEVELOP A PENALTY IF THERE IS ONE.

ADD DEADLINES WERE MISSED QUITE OFTEN AND WEREN'T A LOT OF REPERCUSSIONS FOR THAT.

JUST TRIED TO GET TO THE NEXT POINT AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

GROUPING LIKE COMMON CAUSE OHIO AND THE VOTERS OF OHIO ARE REALLY WATCHING THIS PROCESS AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE PLANNING OR PREPARING TO DO OR IF THEY CAN EVEN DO ANYTHING.

THAT'S PART OF THE FRUSTRATION HERE.

THIS IS ALL BRAND NEW.

WE'RE ALL TREADING THIS WATER TOGETHER AND DON'T NECESSARILY KNOW WHAT THE NEXT STEPS ARE.

I THINK THE SUPREME COURT STILL RETAINS THAT JURISDICTION AND CAN SET THE RULES.

I PRESUME THAT POTENTIALLY MEANS THEY COULD EVEN DRAW THE MAP, IF MAPS, REPEATED MAPS ARE SUBMITTED THAT DON'T MEET THE CRITERIA OR DEADLINE BLOWN OFF.

>> WE SHALL SEE.

LEGISLATIVE MAPS, ANOTHER WAY TO DO IT.

REJECTING OHIO'S MAP, THE CHIEF JUSTICE SUGGESTED VOTERS LOOK AT STATES THAT USE INDEPENDENT COMMISSIONS TO DRAW MAPS.

THE NEW INDEPENDENT COMMISSION IN MICHIGAN HAS DRAWN PRAISE.

INDEPENDENT COMMISSION IN NEW YORK HAS BEEN CALLED ABOUT ABJECT FAILURE.

IS AN INDEPENDENT COMMISSION THE WAY THIS SHOULD BE SCRAPPED AFTER JUST ONE TRY?

>> WHAT MOST PEOPLE DON'T KNOW IS THAT IT IS A NEGOTIATION.

THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS WE USE THAT WE TOOK OUT OF OUR FORMULA THAT MAY BE APPEALING TO THEM.

SO IT ALWAYS EXISTED IN THE THOUGHT PROCESS.

NOW, WHERE WE'RE AT NOW, TO GO BACK TO THE VOTERS WOULD BE EXCEPTIONALLY EASY FOR THAT TYPE OF PROPOSAL TO STRUCTURE A COMMISSION, USE THESE RULES, WHICH FUNDAMENTALLY HAVE BEEN APPROVED BY THE SUPREME COURT.

SO THEY HAVE SOME ENDORSEMENT THERE.

AND WE THINK WE COULD GET A COMMISSION.

WE HOPE WE DON'T HAVE TO DO THAT, BUT WE THINK WE CAN GET A COMMISSION.

>> MICHIGAN, INTERESTING HOW THEY PICKED THE COMMISSIONERS.

PEOPLE ARE DRAWN RANDOM AND EACH PARTY CAN SORT OF STRIKE NUMBERS.

LIKE A CHALLENGE THAT PROSECUTORS AND DEFENSE ATTORNEYS HAVE WHEN PICKING JURORS.

AS A FORMER PROSECUTOR WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THAT METHOD OF PICKING AN INDEPENDENT COMMISSIONER?

>> MAYBE HAVE DIFFERENT CITIZENS DO FEATS OF STRENGTH THAT SEEMS TO BE THE MOST WEIGHT AND MAYBE THEY'LL BE ON THE COMMISSION.

I'M JOKING, OF COURSE.

HERE WHAT WE KNOW.

DRAWING OF A DISTRICT IS INHERENTLY A POLITICAL PROCESS.

TRY TO REMOVE POLITICS OUT OF THE POLITICAL REDRAWING IS LIKE TRYING TO REMOVE THE TOMATO OUT OF TOMATO JUICE.

WHETHER IT'S POLITICIANS DOING IT OR PEOPLE CHOSEN OR VETOED BY POLITICIANS, THERE WILL BE POLITICS BAKED INTO THE CAKE.

>> IN MICHIGAN, THEY'RE BEING CHALLENGED.

NOT GONE AS SMOOTH AS GLASS UP THERE.

AND BLACK CAUCUS AND LEGISLATURE CHALLENGES THE PROCESS SAYING MANY MINORITY, MAJORITY DISTRICTS HAVE BEEN CUT AND THE CHANCESES OF AN AFRICAN AMERICAN OR BLACK POLITICIAN ELECTED IS LESS NOW WITH THESE NEW MAPS.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

IS THAT A DOWN SIDE TO AN INDEPENDENT COMMISSION?

>> FIRST LET ME RESPOND TO MARK.

MARK, IT'S NOT ALWAYS BEEN A POLITICAL PROCESS BUT A RACIAL PROCESS USED FOR BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE TO BE MANEUVERED.

IF YOU WANT TO SHAKE YOUR HEAD AND SAY THAT THERE'S A LITANY OF COURT CASES STRUCTURED THE SAME THAT THE GERRYMANDERING WAS BASED UPON RACE.

NOW, MOVING FORWARD, I THINK WE CAN WORK SOMETHING OUT.

I THINK THIS COMMUNITY IS SMART ENOUGH TO WORK THIS OUT.

I THINK A COMMISSION, THOUGH, ENDED, A COMMISSION IS NECESSARY, INDEPENDENT COMMISSION IS NECESSARY.

WHETHER WE WANT TO USE THE TECHNIQUES YOU JUST SAID, I WOULD HOPE SOMEBODY WOULD NOMINATE PEOPLE WHO HAVE KNOWLEDGE AND BACKGROUND AS A STARTING POINT, AND WE SORT THROUGH THEM.

NOT JUST PICKING PEOPLE OFF OF THE -- THE REGISTERED VOTERS' LIST.

>> AND WHAT IS THE FEELING AT THE STATE HOUSE?

THIS PROCESS ISN'T OVER YET.

COULD END UP WITH A PERFECTLY FAIR MAP END OF THIS PROCESS AND YOU COULD ARGUE THIS PROCESS WORKED.

OR IT COULD NOT.

BUT MAUREEN O'CONNOR HAS SOME WEIGHT, GRAVITAS, SUGGESTED LOOKING AT AN INDEPENDENT COMMISSION.

TALK OF THAT DOWN AT THE STATE HOUSE?

>> FIRST OF ALL, NOT ONLY DO WE HAVE TWO PARTIES AT ODDS ABOUT THIS, POTENTIAL WILD CARDS IN THE OTHER STATE-WIDE EXECUTIVE OFFHOLDERS'SGOVERNOR DeWINE YOU MENTIONED CONCERNED ABOUT WHEN APPROVED BACK IN SEPTEMBER.

SO WAS THE SECRETARY OF STATE WHO ALSO IS REMINDED THE COMMISSION IF SOMETHING ISN'T DONE IN SHORT ORDER WE COULD HAVE TO MOVE THE MAY PRIMARY, AND SO I WOULD THINK THAT THOSE OTHER OFFICEHOLDERS COULD POTENTIALLY BE WILD CARDS IN FIGURING OUT EXACTLY WHERE THE DEAL NIGHT BE.

WHEN IT COMES TO THE INDEPENDENT COMMISSION IDEA I SPOKE WITH A COLLEAGUE IN OHIO FOR OUR TV SHOW "THE STATE OF OHIO" LAST WEEK ABOUT THIS IDEA.

SHE SPECIFICALLY MENTIONED THE OHIO VOTERS REJECTED IDEA OF INDEPENDENT COMMISSION DRAWING THESE MAPS IN 2005 AND IN 2012.

AND SHE SAYS THAT THERE WAS A FEELING THEY WOULD NOT BE ACCOUNTABLE TO VOTERS.

YET SAYS THE SUPREME COURT DECISION SHOWN ELECTED OFFICIALS WERE NOT ACCOUNTABLE TO VOTERS.

SO WHETHER THERE WOULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR INDEPENDENT COMMISSION TO COME UP AGAIN AND MAKE CHANGES.

CERTAINLY THERE'S TALK ABOUT DOING SOMETHING EITHER THROUGH THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS OR GOING BACK TO VOTERS ON THE BALLOT TO MAKE CHANGES HERE.

I SUPPOSE THAT'S ONE THING THAT COULD POTENTIALLY BE ON THE TABLE.

>> INDEPENDENT IS A RELEVANT TERM.

IN NEW YORK, INDEPENDENT REDISTRICTING PREVENTION MAPS AND LAWMAKERS CAN VETO IT.

SO MUCH FOR INDEPENDENTS IN NEW YORK WHERE DEMOCRATS DO GERRYMANDERING THERE.

TELL ME IF YOU'VE HEARD THIS BEFORE.

COULD BE ON THE DOWN SIDE OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

LOOKS LIKE THE OMICRON SURGE MAY HAVE PEAKED IN OHIO.

OMICRON'S FIRST SURGED IN THE CLEVELAND AREA, IF YOU REMEMBER.

NOW NORTHEAST OHIO IS SEEING A SUSTAINED SHARP DROP IN CASES.

STATEWIDE THEY REMAIN HIGH BUT THEY'VE LEVELED OFF HOSPITALIZATIONS, STILL HIGH, SLOWLY DECLINING.

I DON'T WANT TO JINX ANYTHING.

DARE WE SAY THE SURGE MAY HAVE PEAKED?

>> I THINK THERE'S THE IDEA DELTA DEFINITELY PEAKED AND OMICRON GETTING THERE.

CERTAINLY THE SHIFT FROM NORTHEAST OHIO DOWN TO SOUTHERN AND SOUTHWEST OHIO, BUT ALSO SOUTHEAST OHIO.

YOU HAVE AS MANY AS HALF PATIENTS IN SOUTHEAST OHIO IN THE ICU WHO ARE COVID POSITIVE.

SO THAT'S WHY THE OHIO NATIONAL GUARD SAID THE GUARD MEMBERS ARE SHIFTED DOWN FROM NORTHEAST OHIO DOWN INTO SOUTHERN OHIO TO TRY TO HELP WITH HOSPITAL STAFFING THERE.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE, THERE'S 2,000 PEOPLE WHO HAVE DIED OF COVID IN JUST JANUARY IN OHIO.

I MEAN, THESE ARE HUGE NUMBERS STILL.

THE DEATH TOLLS ARE STILL REALLY HIGH, AND WHILE HOSPITALIZATIONS HAVE STARTED TO DECLINE, THEY WERE AT RECORD LEVELS.

WE HAD OVER 6,000 PEOPLE, 6,3 -- LOOKING AT NUMBERS NOW.

6,700 PEOPLE IN THE HOSPITAL WITH COVID AT ONE POINT THIS MONTH.

THESE ARE REALLY, REALLY BIG NUMBERS.

THIS IS NOT OVER YET.

BUT WE COULD BE REACHING THE PEAK AND MAYBE GOING INTO THE DOWNHILL SLIDE.

WE'RE DOWNHILL, ACTUALLY, IT'S A GOOD THING AT THIS POINT.

>> AND ANYTHING LEFT TO DO FROM A COMMUNITY STANDPOINT, PUBLIC POLICY STANDPOINT TO IN PARTICULARLY HELP THE HOSPITALS, NURSING HOMES, HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS THAT ARE REALLY BEARING THE BRUNT OF THIS NOW?

>> WE LEARNED SOME THINGS.

FOR EXAMPLE, LEARNED MORE ABOUT WHAT COVID IS, HOW VACCINES WORK WITH COVID.

THAT'S VALUABLE.

BUT PEOPLE OF OHIO HAVE THE INFORMATION THEY NEED TO PROTECT THEMSELVES.

BEFORE VACCINES BEFORE THERAPEUTICS, THIS WAS A DISEASE 99.5% OF THE PEOPLE SURVIVED.

THAT WAS BEFORE VACCINES AND THERAPEUTICS.

NOW PEOPLE WHO ARE VULNERABLE KNOW HOW TO PROTECT THEMSELVES, WEAR AN N95 MASK, STAY AWAY FRA THOSE INFECTED AND THEY SHOULD.

GOVERNMENT'S ROLE SHOULD DECREASE BECAUSE PEOPLE HAVE THE INFORMATION, VACCINES AND THERAPEUTICS TO PROTECT THEMSELVES.

>> AND GOVERNMENT IS MAKING TESTS MORE AVAILABLE, START DISTRICTING N95 MASKS.

SCHOOLS, OTHER AREA HIT HARD.

THE COLUMBUS CITY SCHOOLS KEPT BUILDINGS OPEN.

CLOSE ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS AND TRIED TO AVOID REMOTE LEARNING.

HOW DO YOU THINK SCHOOLS ARE DOING?

HOW DO YOU THINK COLUMBUS CITY SCHOOLS IS HANDLING THE COVID SURGE?

>> DOING THE BEST THEY CAN OF A VERY BAD SITUATION.

YOU CAN QUIBBLE ABOUT THE DECISION-MAKING, BUT IT'S PRIMARILY BASED ON THE SCIENCE, AS IT IS AT A TIME.

LIKE ANY VIRUS.

IT CHANGES OVER THE COURSE.

AND AS MOST PEOPLE, IF MOST PEOPLE HAD UNDERSTOOD OR STUDIES VIRUSES AND EPIDEMICS THAT HE -- WE HAD IN THE PAST.

I HAVE TO CORRECT MARK AGAIN ON SOMETHING HE SAID.

ALTHOUGH THE VIRUS IS EVERYTHING FROM SPANISH TO POLIO, HAVE BEEN RESOLVED AS A GUARD TO A GOVERNMENT EFFORT TO PUT VACCINES, VACCINATIONS AND SYSTEMS IN PLACE.

IT DIDN'T RESOLVE ITSELF ON A NATURAL PROCESS OF PEOPLE MAKING DECISIONS.

NOW, IN THOSE PERIODS, WE DIDN'T HAVE THIS QUACK POLITICAL STUFF THAT'S AFFECTING PEOPLE.

PEOPLE HAD A SENSE OF DUTY TO THEIR NEIGHBOR, TO GO OUT AND GET THE VACCINE, AND DO THE RIGHT THING.

WE DIDN'T HAVE ALL OF THIS DISCUSSION.

I LIVED THROUGH POLIO.

I LIVED THROUGH SARS.

I LIVED THROUGH A LOT OF DISEASES, AND PEOPLE DIDN'T ACT LIKE THIS.

IT'S BECAUSE OF THE POLITICAL NATURE AND YOU DO NOT HAVE A RIGHT TO BRING A DISEASE IN MY PRESENCE.

YOU DO NOT HAVE A RIGHT TO DO THAT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

LET'S GET IT OUR LAST TOPIC.

SAVED BIGGEST NEWS OF THE WEEK, PERHAPS THE LAST DECADE FOR LAST TONIGHT.

LICKING COUNTY SOON A BIRTHPLACE OF A NEW ERA OF MANUFACTURING IN OHIO.

INTEL ANNOUNCED FRIDAY IT PLANS TO BUILD THE WORLD'S LARGEST MICROCHIP COMPUTER FACILITY IN NEW ALBANY.

WHEN BUILT COULD EMPLOY SOME 3,000 WORKERS MANY MAKING SIX-FIGURE SALARIES.

SUPPLIERS COULD SET UP SHOP AND EMPLOY MORE WORKERS AND IF CONGRESS APPROVES, THE COMPANY MAKING MORE MICROCHIPS DOMESTICALLY, INTEL SAYS IT COULD EXPAND THE NEW ALBANY FACILITY EVEN FURTHER.

MARK WEAVER, YOU LIVE IN THAT NECK OF THE WOODS.

WHAT IS THE REACTION AMONG YOUR NEIGHBORS?

>> I THINK MOST PEOPLE ARE EXCITED ABOUT THE PROSPECT OF MORE JOBS COMING TO THE AREA.

NOW IT IS A LARGELY RURAL AREA AS YOU MOVE EAST FROM COLUMBUS.

THERE ARE SOME FOLKS WHO MIGHT NOT WANT TO SEE THE CHARACTER OF THE LANDSCAPE CHANGE.

NEW ALBANY IS A WONDERFUL PLACE NOT JUST FOR FAMILIES.

SO MANY WELL-PLANNED DEVELOPMENTS.

ALSO FOR BUSINESSES.

ONE SUBURB IN GREATER COLUMBUS REALLY GONE OUT OF ITS WAY TO CAREFULLY PLAN, IT'S BEEN NEW ALBANY.

I WORKED WITH THM I KNOW THE LEADERS THERE AND I THINK THEY'VE DONE A REALLY GOOD JOB TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT THE MIX BETWEEN RETAIL AND INDUSTRIAL AND RESIDENTIAL IS GOOD.

SO I THINK IT'S EXCITING.

I THINK MOST PEOPLE ARE EXCITED, AND WE WILL SEE AS IT GOES FORWARD.

>> AND KAREN, THIS HAS BEEN RUMORED FOR SOME TIME.

BUT I GO BACK TO THE AMAZON HQ2 SWEEPSTAKES.

REMEMBER THOSE?

HOW ALL OF THESE FACILITIES, STATES AND CITIES, GIVING AWAY FIRST BORN TO GET AMAZON'S SECOND HEADQUARTERS.

PICKED NEW YORK AND D.C. NEW YORK SAID, NO.

WE DIDN'T HAVE THAT AND IT'S GOING TO BE HUGE.

POTENTIALLY 10,000 WORKERS.

HOW DID OHIO LAND IT?

>> INTERESTING YOU MENTION THAT, AMAZON FACILITY, BECAUSE THE CEO OF INTEL SAID IN AN INTERVIEW THAT THAT WAS, OR THAT PERSON FROM INTEL SAID IN AN INTERVIEW THAT THE COMMUNITY'S DISSATISFACTION WITH THE WAY AMAZON MIGHT DISPLACE AND AFFECT THE COMMUNITY WAS ALL THE REASONS HAD DIDN'T GO THERE.

NOT THE CASE HERE.

WE HAD THE ANNOUNCEMENT HAPPENING AS WE'RE REPORTING THE SHOW.

IT IS A REAL DEAL, AND THERE'S GOING TO BE TWO CHIP MANUFACTURING FACILITIES OR FABS THEY CALL IT.

UP TO EIGHT OUT THERE.

THIS IS A HUGE, HUGE AREA OF REALLY UNDEVELOPED LAND.

5.6 SQUARE MILES THAT COULD END UP HOSTING EIGHT OF THESE FACILITIES.

IT'S POTENTIALLY -- I MEAN, IT'S A GAME-CHANGER FOR OHIO'S ECONOMY MOST LIKELY.

POTENTIALLY HISTORIC.

THINK BACK TO THE WAY HONDA REALLY TRANSFORMED THAT AREA NEAR MARRIOTTSVILLE.

THIS COULD BE MORE TRANSFORMATIVE IN THE NEW ALBANY AREA AND HAVE AN AFFECT BOTH GOOD AND BAD BUT IS REALLY QUITE AN IMMENSE PROJECT, A MASSIVE PROJECT THAT'S GOING TO HAVE REPERCUSSIONS FOR DECADES TO COME AND TAKE A DECADE TO BUILD IT OUT.

>> SAM, ONE OF THE CRITICISMS OF SILICON VALLEY IN OHIO, MOSTLY WHITE.

NO MANY OF COLOR VIEWED HERE.

DOES THIS OPEN UP COMMUNITIES ARE COLOR IN CENTRAL OHIO?

>> YOUR LAST PHRASE IS, YES, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS BEING AN OPPORTUNITY TO OPEN UP OPPORTUNITIES TO AFRICAN AMERICA AND OTHER PEOPLE OF COLOR.

I THINK WE HAVE A RESERVOIR AND I'M SURE IN THE LOCATION STUDY BEFORE THEY DECIDED ON THIS LOCATION, THEY LOOKED WHAT WAS IN THE MARKETPLACE.

THEY LOOKED AT THE CAPACITY OF THE EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS TO REV UP AND HAVE THE TYPE OF PEOPLE THAT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR.

SO THEY MUST BELIEVE ALREADY THAT THE TYPES OF PEOPLE THAT EXIST IN OUR COMMUNITY CAN BE EASILY TRANSFERRED TO THE DOCK.

NOW, THE OTHER ASPECT OF THAT, THAT I REALLY LIKE IS, IT BRING AS DIFFERENT PERSON TO OHIO.

TO ADD TO THE MIX.

GENERALLY MUCH MORE EDUCATED AND MUCH MORE LIBERAL.

SO I LIKE THE IDEA OF TECHNOLOGY TYPES OF COMPANIES COMING TO OUR AREA.

NOW, THEIR HISTORY IS PROBABLY GOING TO BE, HAVE TO BE WORKED ON, AND INITIALLY I WILL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE.

WHEN HONDA DECIDED TO COME TO OHIO, THEY WORKED WITH US AT THE URBAN LEAGUE TO HIRE, SCREEN EMPLOYEES, AND IF YOU GO OUT TO HONDA, THE MIX THAT THEY HAVE IS OUTSTANDING WHEN IT COMES TO DIFFERENT TYPES OF EMPLOYEES.

I HOPE THEY FOLLOW THE PROCESS, WHETHER URBAN LEAGUE OR CONSORTIUM OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF GROUPS TO HELP THEM FIND THE RIGHT PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY TO WORK IN THEIR FACILITY.

I THINK THAT'S THE BEST WAY FOR THEM TO GO.

>> QUICKLY, WE DON'T KNOW ALL DATES, WHAT THE STATE OR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ARE OFFERING BUT SEEMED TO PICK OHIO BECAUSE OF TRANSPORTATION, WORKFORCE AND THE POSSIBILITY OF RECRUITING ENGINEERS FROM OHIO STATE.

DOES THIS SHOW THOSE ARE THE TWO THINGS THAT REALLY CAUSE THE BUSINESS TO LOCATE IN A CERTAIN AREA RATHER THAN TAX CUTS?

>> I THINK -- YEAH.

I THINK SO.

THEY PICKED OHIO THE WAY MANY OF US PICKED OHIO.

I'M A PENNSYLVANIA THEN MOVED TO OHIO.

IT'S A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE.

IF YOU'RE IN OHIO, CENTRAL OHIO REALLY IS THE BEST PLACE TO BE.

OHIO STATE, THE ARTS, THE RESTAURANTS.

JUST A WONDERFUL PLACE AND I THINK INTEL FIGURED THAT OUT.

>> OKAY.

LET'S GET TO OUR OFF THE RECORD FINAL PARTING SHOTS FOR THIS WEEK AND MARK WEAVER, YOU'RE FIRST.

>> BACK IN AUGUST OF 2020 HEAT OF THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION JOE BIDEN TWEETED OUT, WHEN I'M PRESIDENT, I WON'T BLAME ANYBODY FOR MY PROBLEMS, BECAUSE THAT'S NOT LEADERSHIP.

SADLY WHAT WE'RE SEEING ALL TOO OFTEN INCLUDING IN HIS PRESS CONFERENCE THIS WEEK, EVERY TIME CHALLENGED HE'S QUICK TO BLAME SOMEBODY ELSE.

WHETHER IT'S THE PAST PRESIDENT, WHETHER REPUBLICANS IN CONGRESS.

THAT'S NOT LEADERSHIP AND I THINK AMERICANS KNOW THAT JUST BY JOE BIDEN'S NUMBERS, THEY'RE SO LOW.

>> SAM GRESHAM, YOU'RE UP.

>> I THINK WE ARE AT AN IMPORTANT POINT AND I CALL IT A REFLECTION POINT IN HISTORY, DISAGREEMENT IN THE STATE OF OHIO.

I WOULD TELL LISTENERS AND WATCHERS TO STAY ON TOP OF THE SUBJECT, BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SOME HISTORY IN OHIO AND COME UP WITH ONE OF THE BETTER SYSTEMS IN THE COUNTRY.

>> AND KAREN KASLER, FINAL THOUGHTS?

>> I THINK THE INTEL PROJECT POTENTIALLY MAKES HISTORY.

CERTAINLY GOING TO BE PUSHBACK, BEING ON SOCIAL MEDIA OVERWHELMINGLY POSITIVE BUT PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT ENVIRONMENT AND HOUSING PRICES TRAFFIC.

I THINK NOW THOSE PEOPLE WHO WERE INVOLVED IN THAT PROJECT, THOSE PEOPLE RUNNING FOR ELECTION, OR RE-ELECTION ON THE PROJECT HAVE TO ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS.

ALSO I WANT TO CORRECT MYSELF ON SOMETHING.

THERE HAVE BEEN 2,572 PEOPLE WHO HAVE DIED OF COVID IN OHIO IN JANUARY.

12,119 PEOPLE IN OHIO WHO HAVE DIED OF COVID SINCE JUNE 1st.

THIS PANDEMIC IS NOT OVER AND THESE DEATH TOLLS ARE JUST, THEY'RE HORRIBLE.

>> YES.

STILL VERY MUCH WITH US.

>>> MY FINAL COMMENT, VERY WONDERFUL PICTURES OF THE PLANTS IN NEW ALBANY.

RENDERINGS.

MISSING ONE THING, THOUGH.

WHITE FENCE.

NO WHITE FENCE.

WORK ON THAT IF YOU PUT THE PLANT THERE.

>>> THAT IS "COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD" FOR THIS WEEK.

ECONOMIC OUT OUT ONLINE.

ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER, SEE US AT YOUR OWN SCHEDULE ON THE WEBSITE.

FOR OUR CREW AND FOR OUR PANEL, I'M MIKE THOMPSON.

HAVE A GOOD WEEK.

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