>>> MASK MANDATES REAPPEAR AND A BIG SHOE DROPS ON THE NUKE BAILOUT SCANDAL.

♪♪ >>> JOINING US ON COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD THIS WEEK, STATE HOUSE REPORTER FOR THE USA TODAY NETWORK, LAURA BISCHOFF AND MICHAEL MILLER.

WE MAY NEED MASKS AGAIN.

HEALTH EXPERTS AND GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS ARE ONCE AGAIN TALKING ABOUT MASKS AND EVEN POSSIBLE MASK MANDATES.

THAT'S BECAUSE COVID IS ON THE RISE THANKS TO THE HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS COVID VARIANT.

RATES HAVE DOUBLED AND THE HOSPITALIZATION RATE HAS ALSO DOUBLED.

BECAUSE OHIO'S VACCINATION RATE STANDS AT 50%, EXPERTS SAY THE TREND IS HIKELY TO CONTINUE.

>> I THINK THAT WE CAN ANTICIPATE THAT OVER THE COMING MONTHS PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOT YET BEEN INFECTED WITH COVID-19, PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOT RECEIVED A VACCINE ARE ALMOST CERTAINLY GOING TO BE INFECTED WITH COVID-19 DUE TO THE DELTA VARIANT AND ITS LEVEL OF INFECTIOUSNESS, SO IT IS REALLY NOW JUST A MATTER OF TIME.

IT IS WHEN, NOT IF AN UNVACCINATED INDIVIDUAL DEVELOPS COVID-19.

>> IS IT TIME TO START WEARING MASKS AGAIN OR SHOULD WE JUST LIVE LIKE WE HAVE BEEN LIVING THE PAST FEW MONTHS AND JUST HOPE MORE AND MORE PEOPLE GET VACCINATED?

>> I'M KIND OF A BELIEVER OF SCIENCE ON THIS, MIKE.

I THINK AS SOON AS THE TIME COMES, THE ONLY SAFE WAY WILL BE TO CONTINUE TO WEAR MASKS.

BUT I JUST -- YOU KNOW, I LOOK AT THIS AND YOU ARE SEEING IT ACROSS THE COUNTRY, NOT JUST OHIO, SOMETHING LIKE PEOPLE WHO ARE HOSPITALIZED AND ULTIMATELY DIE, THAT'S TWO SEPARATE CATEGORIES, HOSPITALIZED AND DEATHS, 99.5% ARE NOT VACCINATED.

NOW, TO ME, TO GET A NUMBER LIKE THAT, IT IS JUST STUNNING AND ANY OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO HAVE IT CAN GIVE IT TO ANYBODY ELSE AND CAN RESULT IN DEATHS.

WHAT ARE WE, OVER 600,000 NOW DEATHS NATIONWIDE.

SO TODAY, I THINK THEY SHOULD WEAR THEM, AND I KNOW THIS IS A BILL PROHIBITING OHIO FROM HAVING STATE SCHOOLS AND SO FORTH MANDATE IT, WHICH I THINK IS ABSURD IF THEY WANT TO DO THAT.

I THINK IT SHOULD BE ALLOWED.

BUT AS WITH MOST THINGS, I'M IN THE MINORITY.

>> I'M SURE THERE'S LITTLE TALK FROM REPUBLICANS ABOUT REIMPOSING THE RULES.

I KNOW THE SCHOOLS, CLEVELAND AND COLUMBUS, WILL MANDATE THAT THEIR STUDENTS, VACCINATED OR NOT, WEAR A MASK AT LEAST TO START THE SCHOOL YEAR.

>> THERE IS NOT A LOT OF TALK IN THE STATE HOUSE RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THEY'RE ON A BREAK.

BUT THERE HAS BEEN APPETITE IN THE REPUBLICAN-CONTROLLED LEGISLATURE TO REINSTITUTE MASKS OR MANDATES THAT WASN'T POPULAR WITH THAT CROWD IN THE FIRST PLACE.

AND MIKE MILLER ELUDED THERE IS A BILL THAT GOT INTRODUCED BY A REPUBLICAN IN THE STATE SENATE THAT WOULD REMOVE MASK -- PROHIBIT SCHOOLS FROM INSTITUTING MASK MANDATES.

KEEP IN MIND, THE VACCINE IS AVAILABLE FOR KIDS 12 AND UP, SO THERE IS STILL, YOU KNOW, FOUR OR FIVE-YEAR-OLDS THROUGH 12 THAT ARE NOT ELIGIBLE TO GET THE VACCINE.

>> SO DO YOU THINK OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS SHOULD FOLLOW CLEVELAND AND COLUMBUS' LEAD AND HAVE AT LEAST THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS HAVE TO WEAR MASKS?

>> I AGREE.

AND I THINK THEY SHOULD.

BUT ONE OF THE FACTORS THAT WE'RE NOT REALLY TALKING ABOUT WITH THIS DISEASE IS IT'S A VERY PRECARIOUS DISEASE.

IT'S NOT CONSISTENT AND IT'S CONSTANTLY MUTAING AND CREATING A VARIANT.

SO THE BEST WAY TO REALLY PROTECT YOURSELF, KIDS, ADULTS, WHATEVER, IS TO HAVE A MASK ON TO REDUCE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE VIRUS TO GET INTO YOUR RESPIRATORY SYSTEM BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE IT FUNCTIONS AT.

SO I THINK IT'S A NO BRAINER.

BUT A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE SEEM TO BE -- IT'S LIKE TAKING THEIR FREEDOM AWAY.

AND MY FRIENDS WHO SAY IT IS TAKING THEIR FREEDOM AWAY, I SAY IT'S TAKING YOUR FREEDOM AWAY FROM DYING.

NOW, TAKE THAT LAST THOUGHT IF YOU WANT TO.

>> THERE SEEMS TO BE A PUSH TO URGE FOLKS TO GET THE VACCINE, LITTLE STRONGER LANGUAGE.

MITCH McCONNELL FROM KENTUCKY HAD STRONG, BLUNT LANGUAGE THIS WEEK.

WHAT DO YOU THINK IS DRIVING THAT?

>> I THINK MANY CONSERVATIVES AND REPUBLICANS AREN'T GETTING IT.

YOU KNOW, MORE PEOPLE HAVE DIED OF THIS DISEASE THAN WE LOST IN WORLD WAR II.

>> THAT'S TRUE.

>> KOREA AND VIETNAM COMBINED.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> NOW, I'M OLD ENOUGH TO REMEMBER IT, BUT YOU COULDN'T GET COUPONS.

OUR FREEDOM WAS AT STAKE AND SO ON.

NOW IT APPEARS IF WE JUST WEAR MASKS IT IS A VIOLATION OF SOMETHING.

>> THERE WAS AN ANTI-MASK LEAGUE IN THE 1918 FLU.

SO HISTORY TENDS TO REPEAT ITSELF IN MANY WAYS.

BUT YOU'RE RIGHT, THERE WAS MORE OF A COMMUNITY-MINDED SPIRIT IN THOSE DAYS.

THE GOVERNOR SEEMS TO BE LEAVING THE MESSAGING TO HIS SCIENTISTS NOW.

IS HE DRIVING IT BACK, KIND OF TAKING A BACKSEAT?

>> I'M HOLDING HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF THOSE, WHAT DO YOU CALL IT, THE SHOW IN WHICH HE DID CORONAVIRUS BRIEFINGS AND THEN KIND OF TAPPING IT OFF WITH THE AWARDS.

I THINK THE GOVERNOR HAS KIND OF STEPPED BACK A BIT BUT CONTINUES TO PUSH THAT MESSAGE THAT THE VACCINE IS HERE, VERY POWERFUL.

IF YOU CAN'T GET VACCINATED, WEAR A MASK.

I DON'T THINK IT'S QUITE AS, BUT HE'S STILL MAKING THAT MESSAGE KNOWN.

>> WOW, 13,000 OHIOANS DIED IN COVID.

IT'S THE FOURTH HIGHEST TOTAL OF ANY STATE IN THE COUNTRY.

THIS WEEK OHIO AND OTHER STATES SETTLED WITH CARDINAL HEALTH AND OTHER DRUG COMPANIES FOR THEIR ROLE IN FUELLING THE OPOID CRISIS.

OHIO STANDS TO GET A BILLION.

THE PANDEMIC PUSHED IT ASIDE IN THE NEWS A LITTLE BIT, BUT THE NEWS IS STILL STARTLING.

HOW DOES OHIO PLAN TO USE ITS$1 BILLION?

>> BACK IN MARCH OF 2020, DAVE YOUNGST AND MIKE DeWINE ANNOUNCED THE ONE OHIO AGREEMENT.

80% OF OHIO POPULATION HAD SIGNED ON TO IT.

AND IT WOULD -- ANY MONEY THAT COMES THROUGH A NATIONAL SETTLEMENT, 55% WOULD GO TO THE STATE FOUNDATION THAT WE WORK ON RECOVERING PREVENTION, TREATMENT PLANS.

30% WOULD GO TO THE LOCAL.

AND 15%, I CAN'T REMEMBER WHAT IT WOULD GO TO, BUT IT WOULD BE CARVED OUT IN A CERTAIN WAY.

I THINK WHAT THEY WANTED TO GUARD AGAINST, IT BEING RATED FOR UNRELATED FOCUSES, THAT THE MONEY ACTUALLY BE USED TO ADDRESS THE ROOT PROBLEM, WHICH IS DRUG ABUSE AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE DISORDERS.

>> THESE DRUG COMPANIES CAN'T SELL THOSE DRUGS ANYMORE AS PART OF THE SETTLEMENT.

>> I DON'T THINK IT WAS ENOUGH.

AND THE THING IT DIDN'T DO, WHICH IS A DETERRENT, IS NOBODY WENT TO JAIL.

TO STOP THESE COMPANIES FROM DOING IT, SOMEBODY NEEDS TO GO TO JAIL OR SOMEBODIES NEED TO GO TO JAIL.

THEY WILL THROW OUT $1 BILLION, AS LONG AS THEY DON'T HAVE TO GO TO JAIL.

I DON'T BELIEVE THEY WILL STOP.

THE LATEST DRUG FIND THAT WILL MAKE THEM $1 BILLION, THEY WILL DO IT AGAIN.

I JUST DON'T SEE IT.

IT IS NOT A DETURNT.

>> PUBLIC AWARENESS IS STILL VERY HIGH ABOUT THIS EPIDEMIC, THE OPIOD CRISIS, EVEN STARTING TO CONTROL PRESCRIPTIONS WHICH TRIED TO RAMP UP THE TREATMENT PROGRAMS.

BUT WHAT IS IT GOING TO TAKE TO GET BEHIND THIS, TO PUT THIS BEHIND IT?

>> I WAS LOOKING AT THESE A FEW MONTHS AGO.

HE WALKED BY AND SAID THAT'S MY FAVORITE DEFENDANT.

TURNS OUT THIS GUY ON THE 9:00 SATURDAY NIGHT NEWS, THEY GIVE HIM THE SHOT AND HE SURVIVED.

HERE IS A GUY THAT DIED THREE TIMES, NO AFFECT ON HIM AND HE'S STILL GOING.

I CAN TELL YOU ONE SHOT.

BUT THEY STILL DO IT.

AGAIN, I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO GO AWAY.

YOU WILL HAVE TO CHANGE THE ENTIRE OUTLOOK OF PEOPLE AND THE WAY BEHAVE.

>> IT'S NOT JUST BEHAVIOR.

NOBODY SAYS, WHEN I GROW UP, I WANT TO BE ADDICTED TO DRUGS.

THIS OPIOD ADDICTION IS JUST SUCH A POWERFUL HOLD ON PEOPLE'S LIVES.

IT IS MISERABLE.

IT IS HORRIBLE.

THERE IS THIS INCREDIBLE HIGH THAT NEARLY KILLS THEM.

SO PREVENTION IS CRUCIAL, I THINK, IN TERMS OF A PUBLIC POLICY TO TRY AND ADDRESS THIS.

>> YEAH, HOPEFULLY.

>> THEY'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT IT ANYMORE, BUT CRACK COCAINE STILL EXISTS AND HAS THE SAME PULL ON PEOPLE.

IT DESTROYS THEIR BODIES.

IT DOESN'T KILL THEM AS MUCH AS THE OPOID DOES, BUT IT KILLS THE PERSON.

THEY'RE JUST A SHELL.

AND IT KEEPS THEM MESSED UP.

I MEAN, IT'S THERE, BUT WE DON'T TALK ABOUT IT THAT MUCH ANYMORE.

A COUPLE OF MY FRIENDS SAY BECAUSE IT'S PRIMARILY BLACK.

THE OPOIDS ARE IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY, TOO.

AND I DON'T THINK PEOPLE ARE GOING TO ADMIT THAT, BUT THEY ARE.

>> OKAY.

A LITTLE MORE THAN A YEAR AFTER THE CHARGES CAME TO LIGHT, THE COMPANY AT THE CENTER OF THE KNEW CUE LAR BAILOUT SCANDAL.

FIRST ENERGY HAS AGREED TO PAY $230 MILLION IN AN AGREEMENT WITH FEDERAL PROSECUTORS.

THE FIRM ADMITS IT PAID MONEY TO A FORMER HOUSE SPEAKER AND FORMER PUBLIC UTILITIES CHAIR TO HELP GET THE BAILOUT LEGISLATION MADE LAW.

THIS IS NOT REALLY A SURPRISE.

FIRST ENERGY SAID IT WAS WORKING WITH PROSECUPROSECUTORS.

IT HAS DONE WRONG.

BUT WE LEARNED SOME INTERESTING NUGGETS ABOUT HOW THIS WENT DOWN AND HOW THE PLAYERS REACTED TO IT IN THE COURT FILINGS.

>> YEAH.

FIRST I WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW YOU JUST CAME UP WITH LARRY RENDAZZO.

YEAH.

SO IN A 49 PAGE AGREEMENT THAT WAS MADE PUBLIC THIS WEEK BY THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, IT IS PROBABLY -- IT IS THE MOST EXCITING UTILITY READING THAT I HAVE EVER DONE.

IT WAS JAM PACKED WITH ALL KINDS OF DETAILS, MONEY TREND, CHALKED FULL OF SUB SAIDDIES THAT WE HAVE TO SUSS OUT AND FIGURE OUT WHO WAS WHO AND ALSO IT'S CLEAR THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT GOT A HOLD OF EITHER THROUGH WIRETAPS OR THROUGH COOPERATION FROM FIRST ENERGY GOT A WHOLE BUNCH OF TEXT MESSAGES THAT WERE EXCHANGED BETWEEN FIRST ENERGY EXECUTIVES AND SAM RENDAZZO AND LARRY HOUSEHOLDER.

THEY LAY OUT THE LEVEL OF COMMUNICATION THAT WAS GOING ON.

AND POSITIONING SAM AS THE COMMISSIONER.

>> FORMER PROSECUTORS AND DEFENSE ATTORNEY FAMILIAR WITH HOW FEDERAL COURT AND FEDERAL PROSECUTORS WORK.

SAM RENDAZZO HAS NOT BEEN CHARGED YET.

>> THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A VERY COMPLICATED CASE THAT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR YEARS, I SUPPOSE.

CERTAINLY MONTHS AND MONTHS AND MONTHS.

SO I DON'T KNOW WHETHER THEY HAVE SUFFICIENT EFLD, WHETHER THEY THINK HE REALLY DIDN'T DO ANYTHING.

I JUST CAN'T TELL YOU THAT.

I DID THINK, YES, THAT MORE SHOES WILL FALL, SO TO SPEAK.

I THINK WHEN WE MADE THE ANNOUNCEMENT, IT MUST HAVE BEEN CLOSE TO A YEAR OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT ABOUT WHAT WAS HAPPENING SAID THAT MORE INDICTMENTS AND CHARGES WOULD FALL, AND I THINK THEY OBVIOUSLY HAVE.

AND I THINK IT WILL CONTINUE TO.

BURR IF THEY'RE GOING TO CHARGE A, IF THEY'RE GOING TO CHARGE B, I JUST DON'T HAVE THAT INFORMATION AVAILABLE.

>> EXECUTIVES AT FIRST ENERGY HAVE NOT BEEN CHARGED YET.

THEY HAVE LOST THEIR JOBS.

BUT THEY HAVE NOT PERSONALLY BEEN CHARGED WHICH, AGAIN, YOU DON'T KNOW.

BUT WHEN YOU EXPECT MORE THAN JUST THE COMPANY BEING PENALIZED AND ACTUAL POLLINGS WHO AUTHORIZE THE PAYMENTS BE PENALIZED.

>> I DON'T KNOW THAT THE AGREEMENT WAS MADE WHERE FIRST ENERGY IS GOING TO PAY $230 MILLION IF THE AGREEMENT WAS THEY WON'T CHARGE ANY OF THE PEOPLE.

I DON'T KNOW THAT.

I WOULD DOUBT THAT.

BUT THAT'S CERTAINLY A POSSIBLY.

>> MIKE, I WILL SAY THIS, TOO.

THE OPTICS COULD BE COMPLICATED ON THIS ONE.

AND NONE OF THE CORPORATE PEOPLE GO TO JAIL, I THINK YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE A PROBLEM.

IT IS ALMOST ASSURED THAT HOUSEHOW OLDER IS GOING TO GO TO JAIL.

THE OTHER GUYS MAY HAVE TO BE DRAGGED ALONG IF NO MORE THAN FOR THE OPTICS OF IT BECAUSE IT DOESN'T WORK RIGHT IF HE JUST GOES TO RIGHT.

>> LARRY WOULD DISAGREE WITH SAM.

HE VIGOROUSLY PRO CLAIMS HIS INNOCENCE AND HE COULD COULD JUST SAY THIS IS HARDBALL POLITICS.

IS THERE A CHANCE HE SETTLES TO A LOWER CHARGE OR PENALTY?

AND HOW MUCH LONGER DO WE EXPECT THIS TO TAKE?

>> YOU KNOW, LARRY HAS HAD A YEAR TO COOPERATE WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.

HE SAID HE HAS DONE NOTHING WRONG, THAT HE NEVER TOOK A BRIBE OR SOLICITED A BRIBE.

HE IS NOT GUILTY.

I DON'T SEE HIM CHANGING THAT POSITION ANY TIME SOON.

CHUCK JONES, THE FORMER CEO OF FIRST ENERGY ISSUED STATEMENTS THIS WEEK THAT THEY DID NOTHING WRONG EITHER.

AND EITHER OF THOSE GUYS HAVE BEEN CHARGED YET.

>> YEAH.

WHY DO FEDERAL PROSECUTIONS TAKE SO LONG?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS IS SIX YEARS ON A FELONY AND I'M SURE THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT IS MAYBE A LITTLE MORE, A LITTLE LESS.

THEY HAVE THE LUXURY OF TAKING AS MUCH TIME AS THEY NEED.

IT IS DIFFERENT THAN THE COUNTY PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE IN ONE PRIMARY THING, THEY HAVE TO BE ELECTED.

YOU DON'T HAVE THAT PRESSURE WITH THE UNITED STATES ATTORNEYS, JUST LIKE YOU DON'T HAVE ANY PRESSURE FROM THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT.

SO THEY CAN TAKE THEIR TIME.

THEY ARE ALWAYS EXTREMELY THOROUGH.

THEY HAVE OUTSTANDING INVESTIGATORS AND THE FBI PEOPLE AND SO FORTH, YOU KNOW, OUTSTANDING UNITED STATES ASSISTANT ATTORNEYS.

THEY ARE AS THOROUGHLY PREPARED AS YOU CAN BE.

THEY'RE TAKING THEIR TIME.

THIS WILL BE A HUGE PIECE, AS EVERYBODY KNOWS, AND I AGREE THEY ARE GOING TO TRIAL BECAUSE THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY'VE GOT EVERYTHING, ALL THEIR DUCKS IN A LINE, SO TO SPEAK.

IF THEY NEED EXTRA TIME, THEY'LL TAKE IT.

>> MIKE DeWINE AND SAM RENDAZZO APPOINTED HIM TO THE POSITION.

WHAT HAS BEEN HIS REACTION?

>> HE ISSUED A STATEMENT SAYING THAT HE DIDN'T KNOW SAM RENDAZZO'S R COORDINATION WITH FIRST ENERGY AS ALLEGED IN THE PAPERWORK.

SO IT IS KIND OF A TO BE DETERMINED WHAT THE NEXT STEPS ARE AND WHAT KIND OF FALL-OUT MIKE DeWINE MIGHT FACE.

>> DEMOCRATS HAVE ALREADY STARTED POINTING OUT THE RELATIONSHIP.

OUR LAST TOPIC, OVER THE PAST YEAR COLUMBUS MAYOR ANDREW GINTHER AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL HAVE PROMISED TO USE NEW POLICY UNION CONTRACT TO ENACT REFORMS WITHIN THE DIVISION.

SINCE MONTHS AFTER THE OLD ONE EXPIRED, THE CITY AND POLICE UNION HAVE AGREED TO A NEW ONE.

IT CALLS FOR A 14% RAISE IN PAY AND BENEFITS FOR OFFICERS OVER THREE YEARS.

ELIGIBLE OFFICERS WILL BE OFFERED A ONE-TIME BUYOUT OF $200,000 TO LEAVE THE FORCE.

THE CIVILIAN REVIEW BOARD WILL STAND INVESTIGATIONS, BUT CAN ONLY RECOMMEND DISCIPLINE.

IT IS NOT INVOLVED IN CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS OF OFFICERS.

AND THE REVIEW BOARD HAS NO SUBPOENA POWER BUT OFFICERS FACE DISCIPLINE IF THEY REFUSE TO COOPERATE IN NON-CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS.

>> IN THIS PROGRAM AND OTHERS LIKE IT, I SAY WITHOUT THE SUBPOENA POWER, THIS IS A WASTE OF TIME.

IT IS AN EXERCISE TO OUTLINE ISSUES THAT HAVE NO RELEVANCE AT ALL.

BUT I UNDERSTAND CITY COUNCIL HAD TO DO THIS IN THE FIRST PLACE.

>> IT IS PART OF THE POLICE CONTRACT THAT THEY HAVE AGREED TO A CIVILIAN REVIEW BOARD.

IS THAT NOT A STEP IN THE DIRECTION OF INDEPENDENT OVERSIGHT?

>> IF YOU COULD ONLY RECOMMEND DISCIPLINE, ONLY RECOMMEND, AND YOU DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO GET THE INFORMATION YOU WANT FROM A SUBPOENA, WHAT DO YOU GOT?

YOU GOT AN EMPTY SHELL THAT TALKS A LOT, BARKS A LOT BUT CAN'T REALLY BITE ANYBODY.

AND EVERYONE KNOWS THAT.

IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY, OKAY, HO-HUM, HERE WE GO AGAIN.

WE'RE GOING TO HEAR A LOT OF ENERGY IN MAKING ALLEGATIONS, BUT THE ABILITY TO EXECUTE ON THOSE ALLEGATIONS AND PROSECUTE PEOPLE HAS DIMINISHED SIGNIFICANTLY.

ONE MORE THING OF IT.

ONE OF THE POLICE REVIEW BOARDS IN THE COUNTRY HAS BEEN VERY EFFECTIVE.

CHICAGO AND L.A. ARE THE ONES AND NEW YORK ARE THE ONES.

LITTLE OR NOTHING BUT HAVE MEAT.

>> I REVIEWED THIS CONTRACT.

IS IT A WIN FOR THE UNIONS?

IS IT A FAIR COMPROMISE BETWEEN THE CITY, WHICH WAS LOOKING TO MAKE SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IN HOW POLICE OPERATE?

>> WELL, I COULDN'T AGREE MORE WITH SAM.

WE OUGHT TO HAVE A BEER AND DISCUSS THIS.

HE'S RIGHT ON THE MONEY WITH ALL THIS.

I SAW SOMETHING BACK IN DECEMBER THE CIVIL REVIEW BOARD WAS TO OBTAIN SUBPOENA POWERS.

THEY OBVIOUSLY GAVE THAT UP.

I THINK IT'S PRETTY MUCH MEANINGLESS.

IT IS JUST SMOKE AND MIRRORS.

NOTHING GETS CHANGED, AND I THINK, FRANKLY, THAT'S PROBABLY GOOD FOR THE COMMUNITY.

BUT WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO TO STOP CRIME?

IF THEY CAN STOP IT IN CHICAGO AND WASHINGTON, D.C. AND ALL THE OTHER PLACES THAT HAVE THESE, THEN TELL US HOW TO DO IT.

THEY CAN'T SOLVE IT HERE.

>> MIKE, $200,000 BUYOUT FOR OFFICERS.

WHAT DO YOU THINK IS GOING ON THERE?

>> I DON'T KNOW, MIKE.

IS THAT FOR EVERYBODY?

IT WAS FOR EVERYBODY OR JUST PEOPLE OF A CERTAIN RANK?

>> CERTAIN RANKS, BUT, YEAH.

>> IN ANY EVENT, THAT'S AN AWFUL, AWFUL LOT OF MONEY TO PAY OUT.

I'M NOT TOO SURE WHAT WAS BEHIND IT.

IF THEY DID THAT, THE FOP DID SOME CONCESSIONS.

I DON'T LIKE THE CONCESSIONS THEY'VE GOT.

BECAUSE LIKE SAM SAID, IT IS STILL AN EMPTY SHELL THERE.

>> DO YOU THINK THE CITY IS TRYING TO ENCOURAGE OLDER OFFICERS PERHAPS STUCK IN THE OLD WAYS TO MOVE ON AND MAKE ROOM FOR NEW OFFICERS WITH PERHAPS A DIFFERENT WAY OF THINKING?

>> YOU WOULD HAVE THE BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHO THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT.

I BELIEVE THAT ITS TO HELP THE NEW POLICE CHIEF, TO HELP HER GET OLD PEOPLE OUT OF THE ORGANIZATION SO SHE DOESN'T HAVE TO DO ALL THAT FIGHTING IN ORDER TO GET SOME THINGS DONE.

I ALSO THINK IT DOESN'T LOOK GOOD IF THEY DIDN'T GET THE SUBPOENA POWER TO DO THIS.

IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE.

WHAT DID YOU GET?

MIKE ASKED THE RIGHT QUESTION.

WHAT DID YOU GET FOR $200,000 A HEAD?

YOU DIDN'T GET THE SUBPOENA POWER.

HOW WILL IT COME OUT WITH $200,000 GIVEN AWAY WITHOUT THE SUBPOENA POWER?

>> OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS, A LOT OF OFFICERS HAVE RETIRED OR GONE TO OTHER DEPARTMENTS.

YOU HAVE TO WONDER WHAT THEY'RE THINKING NOW WHEN THEY SEE THAT $200,000 ON THE TABLE.

MAYBE THEY SHOULD HAVE STUCK AROUND A YEAR.

TIME FOR OUR PARTING THOUGHTS.

MIKE, WE'LL START WITH YOU.

>> THE GUARDIANS.

IF THEY'RE GOING TO CHANGE IT TO SOMETHING LIKE THE SPIDER, WOULD PROBABLY TAKE IT OUTSIDE THE STADIUM.

>> NOT A FAN OF GUARDIANS, MICHAEL?

>> I'M NOT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

SAM, YOUR FINAL THOUGHT.

>> I THINK THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IS IN A CRACK.

AND THE CRACK IS THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT VOTING OR THEY WON'T HAVE A DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

IF THOSE THREE STATES ARE ALLOWED TO KEEP THOSE NEW RULES IN EFFECT, THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IS RIPPED.

WE WILL SEE WHAT KIND OF BACKBONE THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY ACROSS THE COUNTRY HAS AND THE GEORGE FLOYD AND JOHN LEWIS LEGISLATION, WE WILL SEE WHAT THEY GOT GOING FOR THEM.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND YOUR FINAL THOUGHT?

>> HOW INCREDIBLE THIS IS IN SIZE AND COMPLEXITY, THE CHARACTERS, THE AUDACITY, THE DOLLAR AMOUNTS.

IT WAS UNCOVERED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE AND THE FBI.

BUT I HAVE TO SAY THAT MY COLLEAGUES HAVE BEEN STRUGGLING WITH ISSUES FROM THE GET GO AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO, CONTINUE TO DIG AND WE'LL STAY ON IT AND PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO YOUR LOCAL NEWSPAPER AND GO GUARDIANS.

>> GO GUARDIANS.

BIG WEEKEND FOR OHIO.

A NEW NEGOTIATION FOR REPUBLICANS ON THE BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE BILL.

BIDEN HAS A DEADLINE OF MONDAY, SO WE'LL SEE IF THEY CAN BRING THAT BIPARTISAN BILL OVER THE GOAL LINE.

THAT IS COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD FOR THIS WEEK.

CHECK US OUT ONLINE ON OUR WEBSITE.

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

HAVE A GOOD WEEK.