>>> THE RACE BETWEEN THE VACCINE AND THE VARIANTS.

AND THE LEGACY OF OHIO ACE SO-CALLED 34th SENATOR.

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>>> JOINING US ON "COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD" THIS WEEK, MIKE MILLER, MORGAN HARPER, AND ANDY CHOW, STATE HOUSE REPORTER FOR OHIO PUBLIC RADIO.

BY THE END OF THIS MONTH, EVERYONE ELIGIBLE TO DRIVE WILL BE ABLE TO GET A COVID-19 VACCINE.

THE LATEST VACCINATION PLAN AS MORE DOSES BECOME AVAILABLE IN OHIO.

BY THE END OF MARCH, THE STATE HOPES TO HAVE ADMINISTERED HALF A MILLION SHOTS A WEEK, AN THAT'S JUST IN TIME.

IN THE PAST WEEK OR SO, NEW CASES AND HOSPITALIZATIONS HAVE PLATEAUED AFTER DECLINING RAPIDLY FOR SEVERAL WEEKS.

>> FRANKLY, IN A RACE AND WE DON REALLY KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THE ENEMY IS DOING.

BUT WE DO KNOW FROM TALKING TO THE SCIENTISTS AND TALKING TO EPIDEMIOLOGISTS THAT THEY DO BELIEVE THAT THE VARIANT IS SPREADING IN OHIO.

THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT THE VACCINE IS JUST -- APPEARS TO BE JUST AS POWERFUL, THEY THINK, AGAINST THE VARIANT AS AGAINST WHAT WE'RE DEALING WITH BEFORE.

BUT ALSO, THE DOWNSIDE OF THAT, OF COURSE, IS THAT IT IS BELIEVED TO BE A LOT MORE CON TAJTS TABLES.

>> ANDY CHOW, EVERYONE CAN GET A SHOT BY MARCH 29th.

IS THAT BECAUSE WE'RE GETTING MORE VACCINES OR WE'RE JUST GETTING BETTER AT DISTRIBUTING THEM AND HANDING THEM OUT.

>> IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF A COUPLE OF THINGS.

YES, WE ARE SEEING AN INCREASE IN THE AMOUNT OF VACCINE THAT THE STATE'S GOING TO GET.

LIKE YOU SAID WE'RE EXPECTING TO SEE ABOUT 500,000 DOSES COMING IN BY THE END OF THE MONTH.

THE GROUPS HALF BEEN ELIGIBLE FOR THE VACCINE HAVE HAD A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME TO GO GET THAT SHOT.

WHAT WE'VE BEEN HEARING, WHAT THE STATE'S BEEN HEARING FROM VACCINE PROVIDERS, IS THAT THEY'RE RUNNING INTO A SITUATION WHERE THEY'RE TRY TRYING TO PROVIDE IT TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE WITHIN THE ELIGIBILITY GROUPS AND THEY'RE STILL FINDING THEMSELVES WITH A SURPLUS OF VACCINE AT THE END OF THE WEEK.

YOU HEAR ABOUT ESPECIALLY IN RURAL AREAS AND SMALL TOWNS AROUND OHIO, THEY HAVE THESE NO WASTE LISTS TOSS MAKE SURE THE VACCINE DOESN'T EXPIRE.

SEEMS LIKE THEY'RE TURNING TO THE LISTS MORE AND MORE OFTEN.

SO THIS BROADENING OF THE VACCINE, THIS BROADENING OF QUALIFICATIONS AND ELIGIBILITY TO THE VACCINE IS PART OF SEVERAL OF THOSE FACTORS.

>> MICHAEL MILLER, YOU'VE HAD THE VACCINE, THE SECOND SHOT FOR QUITE A WHILE.

THIS IS OBVIOUSLY GOOD NEWS.

THE MORE PEOPLE GET THE SHOT, WE BELIEVE THE QUICKER THIS THING GETS BEHIND US.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

I THINK THERE'S ANOTHER THING, TOO, MIKE.

THESE PEOPLE WHO FOR UNKNOWN REASONS TO ME, ANYWAY, SAY THEY'RE NOT GOING TO GET THE SHOT.

VARIOUS AND SUNDAYRY REASONS FOR IT.

I THINK MORE PEOPLE GET THE SHOT, THEY DON'T BECOME CONVERSIONAL TO THE ONES WHO DON'T WANT TO DO IT.

NEIGHBOR A IS NOT GOING TO GET THE SHOT.

NEIGHBOR B GET ITS, DOES NEIGHBOR C GET IT?

SO I THINK IT'S GOING TO HAVE A TWOFOLD EFFECT AND I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE GOOD FOR THE STATE.

>> MIKE, YOU'VE NEVER BEEN IN THE TRUMP CAMP THROUGHOUT THE LAST FOUR OR FIVE YEARS BUT THERE WAS A POLL THAT SHOWED A MAJORITY OF REPUBLICANS AND ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO SUPPORTED DONALD TRUMP WEREN'T GOING TO GET THE VACCINE.

WHAT'S GOING ON THERE?

IS THERE A LEGITIMATE CONCERN ABOUT THE NEWNESS OF THE VACCINE?

>> WELL, MIKE, I -- I'VE BEEN A REPUBLICAN MY WHOLE LIFE BUT I WAS NEVER IN THE TRUMP THING, I THINK AS YOU KNOW.

I HAVE NO IDEA WHY THEY'RE NOT DOING IT.

I COULD GUESS.

IT'S BEYOND COMMON SENSE TO ME.

SCIENCE IS NOT REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT.

IT'S SIMPLY HERE IT IS AND SEEMS TO ME THAT SCIENCE IS OVERWHELMING, THAT THAT WE SHOULD TAKE THESE SHOTS.

WHY THEY'RE NOT DOING IT, YOU HAVE TO ASK THEM.

>> MORGAN HARPER, AFRICAN-AMERICANS ARE OFTEN LEERY OF UNPROVEN MEDICAL DEVICES AND MEDICINES.

WHAT IS THE FEELING NOW WE'VE BEEN GIVING THE VACCINE OUT NOW REALLY SINCE CHRISTMAS.

IT'S NOW APPROACHING THE EASTER.

HAS THE FEELING CHANGED?

MORE AND MORE PEOPLE IN THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY WILLING TO GIVE THE VACCINE A SHOT AND ARE PEOPLE OF COLOR GETTING THE VACCINE?

>> THE DATA SHOWS THAT ACTUALLY WHEN POLLED, A MAJORITY OF BLACK PEOPLE SAY THAT THEY ARE GOING TO GET VACCINATED, AND SO I THINK IF WE'RE REALLY GOING TO ACHIEVE HERD IMMUNITY AND HAVE WIDESPREAD VACCINATION WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE POPULATIONS WE'RE JUST DISCUSSING THAT ARE MORE DISTRUSTFUL.

I DON'T THINK NECESSARILY THE BLACK COMMUNITY.

I THINK IT'S THROUGH A LOT OF MISINFORMATION, VACCINE, LIKE THE FORMER PRESIDENT AND SOME OF THE LEADERS IN OUR OWN STATE DON'T DO ENOUGH TO COUNTER.

I WOULD LOVE TO SEE INSTEAD OF $50 MILLION RECRUITING PEOPLE FROM THE EAST COAST INTO BELIEVING WE'RE LEADING ON SOMETHING, ACTUALLY JUST LEAD AND CUT THROUGH THE MISINFORMATION.

>> ANTICIPATED CHOW, WE'RE NOT SURE HOW THE VACCINE WILL ATHLETE THESE VARIANTS.

THEY'RE MORE CONTAGIOUS WE KNOW.

THE STATE IS KEEPING UNION ON THAT AND WE HAD A SHARP DECLINE BUT THE NEW CASES HAVE PLATEAUED.

>> THESE VARNLTS, THAT'S NEW STRAINS ARE CREATING A BIG CONCERN AMONG HEALTH OFFICIALS IN THE STATE AND STATE OFFICIALS OF GOVERNOR MIKE DEWINE.

THAT'S WHY HE SAID WE'RE HOPING AND THE STATE'S HOPING,000 THE RATE OF THE VACCINE, THE RATE OF THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE WHO GET THE VACCINE CAN HOPEFULLY OUTPACE THE SPREAD OF THESE NEW VARIANTS, BECAUSE IN THE END, AND LIKE YOU SAID, ACCORDING TO THE NUMBERS, IT DOES SEEM TO BE SOMETHING THAT'S SPREADING AND COULD IT BE THE VARIANTS, COULD IT BE MAYBE PEOPLE ARE FEELING MORE RELAXED WITH THE RESTRICTIONS, MAYBE NOT WEARING THEIR MASK AS MUCH AS THE WEATHER GETS BETTER.

THERE'S ALL SORTS OF FACTORS THAT CAN PLAY INTO THIS.

THAT'S THE HOPE THAT MORE VACCINATION CAN HELP STEM THIS UP CREASE OF SPREAD.

>> MORGAN HARPER, THE GOVERNMENT MADE NEWS ON RESTRICTIONS, HE'S LOOSENED THE ATTENDANCE AT INDOOR PERFORMANCES LIKE HOCKEY GAMES AND BASKETBALL GAMES AND OUTDOOR ATHLETIC PERFORMANCES WHEN THEY GET GOING.

ARE YOU SATISFIED THAT THE GOVERNOR IS TAKING THE WAIT AND SEE ATTITUDE TO SEE HOW THESE VARIANTS GO AND HOW THE VACCINE DISTRIBUTION GOES BEFORE PULLING BACK MORE ON THE PUBLIC ACTIVITIES AND HEALTH ORDERS?

>> WE DEFINITELY HAVE LEARNED A LOT IN TERMS OF HOW TO MANAGE OUR BEHAVIOR AND STAY SAFE IN THE MIDST OF THE CORONAVIRUS.

HAVING MORE PEOPLE IN VULNERABLE POPULATIONS VACCINATED, ALLOWING MORE FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT THERE.

I HOPE THAT WE CONTINUE TO SEE THE GOVERNOR STRIKING THE RIGHT BALANCING.

I THINK THE CRITICAL PIECE IS USING HIS PLATFORM TO PUSH BACK AGAINST SOME OF THE MISINFORMATION AND TARGET THE POPULATIONS THAT DON'T WANT TO GET VACCINATED AND ALSO AREN'T TAKING -- HAVEN'T BEEN TAKING THE VIRUS SERIOUSLY THIS WHOLE TIME AND ARE LONGING TO MOVE FORWARD.

>> MIKE, YOU MENTIONED THAT YOU HAVEN'T BEEN TO A RESTAURANT MAYBE ONCE IN THE PAST YEAR, BUT YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE GOING?

>> CARRYOUT, WE DID, BUT I ALWAYS FELT UNCOMFORTABLE.

MY CHILDREN DIDN'T WANT ME TO GO IN.

WE'RE AT THE AIMING WE'RE VERY VULNERABLE TO IT.

SO I DIDN'T.

I HAD MY SECOND SHOT ABOUT FEBRUARY 9th WAS THE P END.

MY WIFE'S HAD HERS, TOO.

WE STILL WEAR MASKS AND THAT SORT OF THING BUT I FEEL I CAN GO INTO PLACES THAT I'M SEPARATED SIX FEET AND ALL THAT.

I FEEL SAFE ABOUT IT.

TO SIT AT A BAR SO I CAN HAVE DINNER AND I FEEL COMFORTABLE AND I REALLY -- I'M GETTING LESS RESISTANCE FROM MY CHILDREN.

AND I MEAN, THEY WERE ALL VERY, VERY FIRM.

MAKE SURE I WAS HOME AT 8:30 AT NIGHT.

I FEEL MUCH BETTER ABOUT IT NOW AND I DO FEEL CONFIDENT AND P IN DOING SOME THINGS.

>> PAYBACK FOR ALL THOSE CURFEWS I'M SURE YOU IMPOSED OVER THE YEARS.

ANY HOWE, 15 WEEKS AFTER A SHERIFF'S DEPUTY SI SHOT AND KILLED CASEY GOODSON, WE HAVE THE AUTOPSY REPORT.

NOT FROM THE CORONER BUT FROM THE FAMILY OF THE BLACK MAN KILLED BY THE WHITE DEPUTY.

CASEY GOODSON WAS SHOT.

IT MATCHES WHAT THE FAMILY HAS BEEN SAYING SINCE DECEMBER WHEN THE SHOOTING OCCURRED.

THE FAMILY MAINTAINS JASON MEADE MURDERED HIM, THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE SAID IT IS INVESTIGATING WHETHER USING DEADLY FORCE WAS NECESSARY.

THEY FOUND AT TP SCENE, THEY MAINTAIN THE LOCATION OF THE GUNSHOTS ALONE DOES NOT TELL THE ENTIRE STORY.

FORMER PROSECUTOR, ALSO BEEN ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE RAIL IN DEFENDING THOSE ACCUSED.

IS THIS AUTOPSY REPORT ENOUGH AS THE MAYOR HAS CALLED FOR THIS CASE TO GO TO THE GRAND JURY?

>> I THINK GOING TO THE GRAND JURY, WHETHER IT'S AN AUTOPSY REPORT OR NOT, THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE AUTOPSY REPORT WHICH DON'T NECESSARILY MEAN WHAT CONCLUSION PEOPLE ARE GONE, BUT I THINK -- I HAD THOSE OUT THAT THE DEPUTY IS PROBABLY GOING TO PAY SOME SORT OF A LEGAL PROCEEDING.

HOW IT TURNS OUT, I DON'T KNOW.

THE LAW IS VERY COMPLICATED ON THIS TYPE OF THING.

IT'S ABSOLUTELY CLEAR NOW.

I DON'T THINK ANYBODY CAN DENY IT THAT THIS YOUNG MAN WAS SHOT SIX TIMES, FIVE IN THE BACK, ONE IN THE BUTTOCKS.

THAT'S A GIVEN.

DOES THAT TRANSCEND TO SOME SORT OF HAMM SNIDE IT DOESN'T.

THERE'S STILL FACTS, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE FACTS ARE.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THIS OFFICER IS GOING TO ALLEGE, WHAT KIND OF GUN HE WAS USING.

WHERE THIS GUN WAS FOUND.

ALL OF THESE THINGS.

SO THERE'S PLENTY LEFT, BUT I THINK CLEARLY IT'S ENOUGH TO TAKE IT TO THE GRAND JURY, AND I SUSPECT SOME SORT OF ACTION THAT THEY WILL TAKE.

>> THE FACT THAT HE WAS SHOT FIVE TIMES IN THE BACK, THE OFFERS -- THE PERSON COULD HAVE TURN AND THAT'S WHY HE WAS SHOT IN THE BACK.

THE FACT THAT THERE WERE FIVE SNOTS THE BACK, DOES THAT RAISE MORE QUESTIONS IN YOUR MIND?

>> I THINK IT DOES.

IT WAS A FULLY AUTOMATIC, YOU CAN PULL THE TRIGGER AND EVERYTHING COMES OUT.

I INDICT THAT'S WHAT HE HAD BUT I DON'T KNOW.

BUT DOES THAT -- THE FACT THAT WHEN YOU GO OFF FROM A DEFENSE POINT OF VIEW, IF THERE WAS ONE SHOT AS OPPOSED TO FIVE OR SIX, CLEARLY I WOULD THINK THE ANSWER TO THAT IS YES.

>> THE FAMILY CONTINUES TO CALL, THEY SAY, THIS IS WHAT WE TOLD YOU WAY BACK IN SEPTEMBER, I THINK THEY SAID THREE TIMES AT THE TIME.

BUT SEVERAL TIMES IN THE BACK HE WAS SHOT.

THEY CLAIM THAT CASEY GOODSON WAS BRINGING HOME SANDWICHES FOR HIS FAMILY.

WHAT'S THE FEELING AROUND HIS SUPPORTERS NOW ON THE LATEST DEVELOPMENT HERE.

>> WELL, YEAH.

I THINK THAT THE LATEST INFORMATION IS CONFIRMING THINGS THAT THE FAMILY IS ALREADY SAYING, THAT MANY IN THE COMMUNITY FELT TO BE TRUE.

THE QUESTION NOW IS NOT WHETHER IT WILL GET TO THE GRAND JURY BUT WILL THERE BE AN INDICTMENT AND A CONVICTION.

I THINK THE FRUSTRATION IS THE LEVEL OF PROTECTION THAT JASON MEADE THE DEPUTY SERVE IS GETTING THAT CASEY GOODSON WILL NEVER ENJOYED.

JASON MEADE HAS HAD NO HARM AT ALL IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE.

THE COMMUNITY IS LOOKING FOR ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRUE JUSTICE.

THAT WILL ONLY COME FROM JASON MEADE BEING HELD ACCOUNTABLE.

>> HE SAID THERE'S NO BODY CAMERA.

JASON MEADE, FRANKLIN COUNTY DEPUTY WAS NOT WEARING A BODY CAMERA.

THE DEPUTIES DON'T HAVE THERGES AS FAR AS WE KNOW.

THEY'RE PLANNING TO NOW.

THAT'S WHAT IT'S GOING TO COME DOWN TO.

IT'S GOING TO COME DOWN TO WITNESS STATEMENTS.

UNLIKE THE HILL CASE WHERE YOU SAW SOME PORTION OF A BODY CAMERA, THERE'S NO CAMERA HERE TO LET US KNOW WHAT REALLY HAPPENED.

>> IT'S GOING TO COME DOWN TO WITNESS STATEMENTS.

IT'S GOING TO COME DOWN TO WHAT EVIDENCE IS THERE.

AND THE ISSUE OF BODY CAMERAS IS SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR A WHILE NOW, NOT ONLY IN COLUMBUS, BUT ALL AROUND THE STATE.

OFFICES OF LAWMAKERS H LAW ENFORCEMENT HAVE THE RESOURCES THEY NEED TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE AND BODY CAMERAS ARE A BIG PART OF THAT.

WE'VE SEEN IN CASES EVEN WHERE OFFICERS DO VERSUS BODY CAMERAS, THEY DON'T TURN THEM ON.

WHAT CAN BE DONE.

THIS IS A QUESTION LEGISLATORS ARE ASKING THEMSELVES RIGHT NOW, WHAT CAN BE DONE TO CREATE MORE ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY AMONG LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AROUND THE STATE.

BODY CAMERAS ARE A HUGE PART OF THAT.

THERE ARE OTHER THINGS AS WELL.

MORE TRAINING, BETTER SCREENING WHEN IT COMES TO RECRUITMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS.

THIS IS UNFORTUNATELY SOMETHING THAT IS TALKED ABOUT A LOT ONCE ONE OF THESE TRAGIC EVENTS HAPPENS, ONCE SOMEBODY IS SHOT, ONCE A PERSON OF COLOR IS SHOT BY A POLICE OFFICER AND THAT HAPPENED.

THERE'S A LOT OF TALK ABOUT IT FOR A LITTLE BIT AND THEN IT SORT OF TAPERS OFF.

SO WHAT WE'RE TO DO ABOUT IT WHILE THEY CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT THIS ISSUE EVEN PAST THESE SPECIFIC EVENTS.

>> ONE OF THE MOST WELL KNOWN AND POSSIBLY ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL LOBBYIST IN OHIO DIED THIS WEEK WHILE UNDER INDICTMENT IN THE STATE'S BLARGEEST BRIBERY SCANDAL.

NEIL CLARK WAS FOUND DEAD NEAR HIS FLORIDA HOME.

THEY'RE CALLING IT AN APPARENT SUICIDE.

HE WAS IN THE $61 MILLION DOLLARS SCHEME.

FOR DECADES CLARK HAD A LOCK LIST OF BIG NAME AND BIG MONEY CLIENTS.

HE WAS WELL KNOWN FOR BEING AGGRESSIVE, AND HE WAS ALSO KNOWN FOR PUSHING ETHICAL LIMITS.

HE WAS UNDER INDICTMENT OBVIOUSLY FACING LOT OF PRESSURE.

BUT HE ALSO CONTENDS HIS INNOCENCE.

WHAT LED UP TO HIS DEATH THIS WEEK.

>> WELL, BEFORE WE GET INTO THAT, LET'S SAY THIS IS CLEARLY A TRAGEDY, THIS IS A LOSS OF LIFE AROUND SO BEFORE WE TALK ABOUT WHAT WAS GOING ON WITH NEIL'S COURT CASES AND EVERYTHING, I JUST WANT TO PAY RESPECTS TO THE FAMILY AND RECOGNIZE THAT THIS IS A LOSS OF LIFE.

YES, HE WAS UNDER INDICTMENT.

HE WAS CHARGED WITH RACKETEERING.

HE WAS CHARGED WITH PLANNING A BIG ROLE IN THE $61 MILLION BRIBERY CASE.

HE HAD A RESIDENCE IN FLORIDA AND ALSO IN OHIO.

THERE WAS PART OF THE POLICE REPORT SUGGESTED THAT NEIL MAY HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT BEING IN SOME SORT OF FM SITUATION, FM ISSUE, SO OF COURSE THAT MIGHT BE DISCUSSED AS SOMETHING THAT WAS PART OF ALL OF THIS.

NEIL CLARK WAS A VERY BIG INFLUENTIAL LOBBYIST AT THE STATE HOUSE.

HE WAS ONE OF THE MOST WELL KNOWN LOBBYIST WALKING THE HALLWAYS.

HE DIDN'T HAVE TO WALK THE HALLWAYS.

HE COULD JUST PICK UP THE PHONE.

OF COURSE, RECENTLY IN THOSE ALLEGATIONS FROM THE FEDERAL INVESTIGATORS, IT WAS HIS POTENTIAL ROLE, HIS ALLEGED ROLE MANY THE ALLEGED BRIBERY SCHEME THAT GOT THE NUCLEAR POWER PLANT PASSED AS A PART OF HB 6.

BUT HE WAS ALSO A LOBBYIST FOR THE PAYDAY INDUSTRY, A LOBBYIST FOR THE OHIO EMPLOYEE PENSION PROGRAM.

SO HE WORKED ON A LOT OF BIG ISSUES AND HAD A MAJOR RELIEF ON A LOT OF BIG PIECES OF LEGISLATION.

>> AGAIN, WE'LL TAP INTO YOUR LEGAL EXPERTISE HERE.

THE CASE AGAINST NEIL CLARK OBVIOUSLY ENDS WITH HIS DEATH.

WHAT DOES IT DO -- WHAT KIND OF IMPACT MIGHT THAT HAVE ON THE OVERALL CASE AS TWO HAVE PLED GUILTY, NEIL CLARK IS GONE BUT OTHERS ARE STILL INDICTED AND HAVE PLED NOT GUILTY.

>> WELL, I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO HAVE A GREAT DEAL OF EFFECT ON IT, MIKE.

I'M SURE THE GOVERNMENT HAS PUT TOGETHER CASES ON ALL THESE INDIVIDUALS, BUT THEY CAN STAND ON THEIR OWN IF THEY HAVE TO.

THERE'S ALL KINDS OF CONSPIRACY, YOU CAN USE HEARSAY TESTIMONY.

THE FACT THAT MR. CLARK IS NOW DECEASED MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE ANY EFFECT UPON THAT.

I'M SURE IN THE LONG RUN THIS ISN'T GOING TO HAPPEN.

THESE TWO PEOPLE WHO HAVE ENTERED GUILTY PLEAS, WHETHER OR NOT THEY MADE AN AGREEMENT WITH THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO TESTIFY IN THE TRIALS OF MR. CLARK AND MR. HOUSEHOLDER.

I DON'T KNOW.

I'M MAKING AN ASSUMPTION THEY DID.

YOU CAN REST ASSURED THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS WELL PREPARED TO MOVE FORWARD IN THIS.

FROM WHAT DAVID SAID LAST WEEK, HE EXPECTS THE GRAND JURY MEETING AND THERE WILL BE, I THINK DAVID SAID SOMETHING LIKE OTHER ACTIONS TAKEN IN THIS MATTER.

WHAT THAT MEANS, WHETHER IT'S OTHER PEOPLE, ADDITIONAL CHARGES AND SO FORTH.

BUT I DON'T THINK MR. CLARK'S DEATH IS GOING TO HAVE ANY EFFECT.

>> WE'RE GOING TO HOP -- LOBBYING AT THE STATE SHOUSE A -- YOU KNOW, IS A FACT OF LIFE.

IT HAS BEEN FOR A LONG TIME.

THERE'S A LOT OF MONEY INVOLVED.

IT'S EXPENSIVE TO RUN CAMPAIGNS.

THERE ARE TERM LIMITS.

WHAT DOES THE -- YOU KNOW, THE STORY OF NEIL CLARK AND HIS ASSOCIATES OVER THE YEARS, WHAT DOES THAT SAY TO PARTNERS OF OHIO?

WHAT LESSONS CAN BE LEARNED THERE?

>> I DEFINITELY WANT TO REITERATE SYMPATHY TO HIS FAMILY BUT THE LEGACY HERE IS ONE OF MAKING A CAREER OUT OF BUYING OFF ON GOVERNMENT AND OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS AND ANDY MENTIONED A COUPLE OF BIG EXAMPLES OTHER THAN THE HOUSE GAMBLE.

BUT THAT HAS RAVAGED BLACK COMMUNITIES IN OUR STATE AND FOR A LONG TIME.

THIS IS FOR ALL OF US ABOUT HOW WE'RE GOING GET OUR STATE LEGISLATURE BACK ON THE SIDE OF THE PEOPLE AND NOT ALLOW LARGE CORPORATIONS AND THOSE THAT AID THEM CONTINUE TO GET RICH WHILE THE REST OF US SUFFER.

>> THE CASE AGAINST CLARKE ENDS DUE TO DEATH.

FEDERAL UTILITY REGULATORS ARE LOOKING INTO FIRST ENERGY'S POLITICAL ACTIVITIES.

THE DAILY NEWS REPORTED THEY CO NATED SOME $1S MILLION TO GOVERNOR DEBE WINE'S AFFILIATED CAMPAIGNS AND THE MAN AT THE CENTER OF THE PROBE REMAINS IN OFFICE AS HOUSE REPUBLICANS HAVE DECIDED AT LEAST FOR NOW NOT TO EXPEL HIM FROM THE LEGISLATION.

IT'S THE STATE'S LARGEST EVER BRIBERY SCANDAL.

DEMOCRATS HAVEN'T MADE THAT MUCH NOISE ABOUT IT.

WILL THEY STOP -- WHEN WILL THEY START MAKING A LOT OF NOISE ABOUT IT?

>> I DON'T THINK THEY'RE MAKING ENOUGH MONEY.

I THINK WE HAVE DEMOCRATS THAT TOOK FIRST ENERGY MONEY WHICH COMPLICATES THE MESSAGING AROUND IT.

IF THERE'S A TIME FOR US AS PEOPLE IN OUR STATE, ARE WE GOING TO ALLOW OUR STATE TO CONTINUE TO BE ONE OF THE MOST CORRUPT IN THE COUNTRY.

ARE WE GOING TO STAND UP AND DEMAND MORE FROM OUR REPRESENTATIVES AND BRING THAT ACCOUNTABILITY?

I THINK AT THIS POINT IT'S BEYOND PARTISAN OR PARTY.

IT'S REALLY ABOUT HOW WE MAKE OUR STATE WORK FOR REGULAR PEOPLE.

>> WHEN LAW ENFORCEMENTS INDICTING THE $61 MILLION BRIBERY SCHEME, USUALLY THEY RESIGN, BUT HE'S INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY.

THAT'S A GIVEN.

ARE YOU SURPRISED THAT HE'S STILL IN THE HOUSE AND THEY HAVEN'T TAKEN A VOTE TO EXPEL HIM?

>> WELL, I SUPPOSE IT ALL DEPENDS, MIKE.

AM I SURPRISED BUT NOT TO A GREAT DEGREE.

THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO DON'T WANT TO GO.

HE MAY BE A BAD GUY BUT WE BELIEVE THAT JUSTICE GOES TO EVERYBODY AND THAT YOU'RE PRESUMED INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY.

NOT JUST CONVICT EVERYBODY, NOT GIVE THEM DUE PROCESS, JUST THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO DO.

THEN THEY'RE ALSO SAYING YOU KNOW WHAT?

THIS IS FRANCHISING.

LOTS OF VOTERS WHO VOTED FOR HIM, KNOWING FULL WELL.

SO I CAN'T ARGUE WITH SOME OF THOSE REASONS.

THERE ARE REASONABLE REASONS THAT PEOPLE HAVE CHOSEN NOT TO DO THIS, AND WE'LL WAIT AND SEE.

AS MORGAN SAID, THERE ARE DEMOCRATS TOOK MONEY, TOO, SIMPLY BECAUSE PEOPLE TOOK MONEY, THAT DOESN'T MEAN THEY'RE CORRUPT.

AND I DISAGREE WITH MORGAN SAYING THIS IS THE MOST CORRUPTIBLE STATE IN THE UNION, WHATEVER.

THE GOVERNMENT HAS SPENT TONS AND TONS AND TONS OF MONEY AND IT CAME UP WITH THE HOUSEHOLDER AS AN ELECTED POSITION.

SO I JUST WANT TO GIVE PEOPLE WHETHER IT'S THE DEPUTY SHOT, WHETHER IT'S HOUSEHOLDER OR WHATEVER, WHAT WE'VE DONE TO PEOPLE ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, THEY ARE PRESIDENT IN UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY.

LET'S SEE WHAT HAPPENS IN THE COURT OF LAW.

EITHER APPLAUD OR COMPLAIN ABOUT WHAT THE VERDICT ULTIMATELY IS.

>> REAL QUICKLY, DEMOCRATS WOULD VOTE TO EX POLE HIM.

HE WOULD GET THE VOTE.

I TAKE IT HE DOESN'T WANT TO PUT THAT OUT FOR -- AND MAKE HIS NUMBERS CHOOSE, HIS CAUCUS MEMBERS CHOOSE.

>> I THINK IT'S CLEAR IF HER TO ALLOW IT ON THE HOUSE FLOOR, THERE WOULD BE ENOUGH VOTES TO EXPEL HOUSEHOLDER.

BUT BOB CUTS IS SCARED TO DO THAT NOW.

HE STILL HAS WHAT PROBABLY WOOS BE A MINORITY OF THE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS DISAGREEING TO EXPEL AND THAT SEEMS TO BE ENOUGH FROM DISCOURAGING HIM TO PUT IT ON THE BOARD AT THIS POINT.

E. >> HE'S ASKED HOUSEHOLDER TO RESIGN.

FINAL PARTING SHOTS, MIKE MILLER, WE'LL START WITH YOU.

>> WELL, I'M SO PLEASED THE WAY THE VACCINE IS MOVING AND I'M SO PLEASED AS MORGAN SAID THAT THE PEOPLE OF COLOR NOW SEEM TO BE TAKING THIS.

IF WE CAN GET SOME OF THESE PEOPLE WHO ARE PEOPLE WHO CAN TAKE IT AND WE CAN HAVE THE HERD IMMUNITY WHICH ALL OF US NEED AND I'M HOPEFUL IT'S GETTING THERE.

>> IT'S COMING BACK TO ONE OF THE THINGS.

INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY.

THAT HAS NOT BEEN THE EXPERIENCE OF EVERYBODY IN THIS COUNTRY, CERTAINLY NOT AMONG BLACK PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY.

LET'S TAKE AN EXAMPLE OF SOMEONE WHO COMMITTED NO CRIME.

SO WE NEED TO BE COGNIZANT ABOUT THE DIFFERENCES IN TREATMENT AND THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN COMMITTING CRIMES ACCOUNTABLE.

>> YOUR FINAL THOUGHT?

>> THE ATLANTA SHOOTINGS LEFT EIGHT PEOPLE DEAD INCLUDING SIX ASIAN WOMEN IS BRINGING LIGHT TO AN ISSUE WHERE A BIPARTISAN EFFORT TO CREATE THE ASIAN AMERICAN-PACIFIC ISLANDER AFFAIR COMMISSION AND THE STATE OFFICE WOULD HELP GENERATE MORE AWARENESS ABOUT ISSUES, SO THERE'S MORE OF A PUSH IN THE STATE HOUSE TO GET THAT BACK.

>> A FINAL THOUGHT.

THERE'S A LOT OF SPECULATION THAT A JUDGE NAMED FRENCH WOULD BE NAMED TO BE THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION OF OHIO.

IT'S NOT THE FORMER SUPREME COURT JUSTICE.

IT'S FRANKLIN COUNTY JUDGE JENNIFER.

SHE WAS NOMINATED BY GOVERNOR DEWINE ON FRIDAY.

WE'LL SEE HOW THAT WORKS OUT FOR THE STATE'S TOP TEEGTS REGULATE OUR ELECTRIC SYSTEM AND NATURAL GAS SYSTEM.

THAT WILL DO IT FOR THIS WEEK.

CHECK US OUT ON LINE AT WOSU.ORG WHERE YOU CAN RELIVE THIS EXPERIENCE OR WATCH US ON DEMAND WHENEVER YOU WANT.

I'M MIKE THOMPSON.

HAVE A GOOD WEEK.