Now that President Biden has signed the bill Congress passed this week requiring the Chinese owners of the popular social media app, TikTok to sell to a US company within the next nine months, or face a possible ban; a lot more is at stake than than whether or not we can continue to can stare for hours at cute cat videos.

The law, which was passed as part of a larger measure that renewed funding for war efforts in Ukraine and Israel, is a national security effort to ensure that the Chinese government cannot access the private data of US citizens. While Byte Dance, the company that currently owns TikTok, denies that is happening; there was enough concern on the part of an increasingly partisan and divided Congress to get the bill passed.

But there are real world consequences to their action.

All kinds of businesses, from solo entrepreneurs, to giant retailers, have found they can reach, engage, and profit from content they post on what has become the fourth most popular social network in America, currently used by more than 50% of the US population. So, what happens to them, if TikTok is no longer available, or it changes in a way that cuts them off from many of their followers?

To find out, we talked to an expert on Social Media Marketing; University of Akron Associate Professor of Marketing, Dr. Alexa Fox. 

Listen now.

Dr. Alexa Fox, University of Akron

It was a violent afternoon in Akron on Tuesday, with police responding to the scene of two shootings just hours apart.

When they showed up at the first one, at the at the Custom Auto Detailing & Hand Car Wash in the 1100 block of S. Main Street; all they found was shell casings and what they call "other evidence of a crime". But, not long afterwards, they got word that two men, ages 28 and 29, showed up for treatment "non life-threatening" wounds at a local hospital.

Then, at about 4:15, they showed up to a report of a shooting in the 1900 block of Newton Street, and found a 20 year old man dead in a parking lot, and a 58 year old woman with serious, but not life-threatening injuries.

So far, they say what they know is that an unknown suspect fired at the two while they were inside a parked car.

Anyone with information, is being asked to contact Akron Police.

Imagine a future where virtually everything you touch is infused with Artificial Intelligence; not just your smart phone, but also your TV, your car, your air conditioner, the forklift at the factory where you work, and more.

But that's not an imaginary scenario.

According to the authors of the new book, "Fusion Strategy: How Real Time Data & AI will Power the Industrial Future"; that is exactly what is happening right now, and what will continue to happen on an ever increasing scale in the future.

So, how can we get ready for it? What is ahead for individuals, for workers, and for business owners?

Find out, as we discuss it with co-author, Dr. Venkat Venkatraman, who is a Professor of Management at Boston University.

Dr. Venkat Venkatraman

Akron Fire reports that while one person inside a burning house at 832 Huber Street in Akron was able to escape safely; they were unable to save another person who was trapped inside.

Fire officials say it hapened at 3:05AM, this morning (Friday), that the structure was fully engulfed in flames when they arrived, and that the roof collapsed. In addition, they say one firefighter received a minor burn.

The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.

Akron Mayor Shammas Malik highlighted the need for positive change, including efforts to reduce gun violence, during his first "State of The City" address, Wednesday night.

He also outlined the action items his administration has completed in their first 100 days, and announced they are changing their policy with regard to police chases.

Now, he says, they will no longer pursue drivers for equipment violations, but may still do so for traffic violations.

The department's previous policy was criticized by a number of community members, after Akron police shot and killed Jayland Walker in 2022, following a police chase.

Find out more, watch now:

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Two lucky couples will tie the knot during this afternoon's total solar eclipse, courtesy of Akron Municipal Court.

Court officials say even though they had originally planned to pick just one winning couple for their Eclipse Wedding essay contest, they wound up picking two; Toni Auvil and Ryan Arce, along with Timmy Bryan and Kylie Thanasiu.

Timmy and Kylie say they have been sweethearts since meeting at the age of 16 at Firestone High School, while Ryan and Toni have been together since they met while working together at Main Street Gourmet in Cuyahoga Falls, back in 2010.

Judge David Hamilton will officiate at the ceremony, which begins at 1 p.m. at the Mustill Store Museum. It will be followed by an eclipse party that will last through the moments of complete darkness known as the "totality", which starts at 3:15, and  the party will continue until 4 p.m.

Timmy Bryan and Kylie Thanasiu

Toni Auvil and Ryan Arce 

Organizers of the upcoming Highland Square Film Festival on May 18th at the Highland Square Theater in Akron are hoping to "whip" up a little Akron rock nostalgia, with films created by the iconic 70's New Wave band.

Author, David Giffels, who will be a featured speaker at the event, will reflect on the band's early days in Akron and Kent, and on the films they made before hitting it big on the pop charts in 1980, with "Whip It". 

Giffels, along with co-author, Jade Dellinger, has written two books about the band; 2008's "We Are Devo! Are We Not Men?", and "The Beginning Was The End: DEVO in Ohio", which came out in 2023.

Listen now as Giffels talks about it, with WAKR's Jeanne Destro. 

David Giffels, Author

When a guy told me a few years ago, "You know, there's going to be another Civil War"; I told him to grab a tinfoil hat.

But then, more and more scary, violent, and downright weird things kept happening; egged on by increasingly inflammatory political rhetoric, and amplified by social media and cable TV.

It all came to a head, but most certainly didn't end, during the insurrection at the US Capitol, on January 6th, 2020.

Now, the federal Judge overseeing former President Donald Trump's upcoming trial in New York for alleged election interference, has filed gag orders, seeking to keep him from making threatening statements against prosecutors, witnesses, and even the judge's own daughter.

But that's just the tip of the iceberg, or perhaps the spear; as we learn that next week, a brand new feature film starring Kirstin Dunst will be released nationwide, called "Civil War", which imagines what seemed like crazy talk a few years ago, just in time to put even more of a spanner in the works ahead of the upcoming Presidential election.

So, what can the average person do?

Are we all just doomed to be battered pillar-to-post each day by with worrisome thoughts and fears that our country is coming apart at the seams? Can't we just get a little peace, and a more calm and reasoned perspective, without sticking our heads so far down in the sand that we miss what is actually going on? 

To find out; I asked Dr. Karl Kaltenthaler, who Directs the University of Akron's Michael J. Morell Center for Intelligence Studies, and is an expert on Domestic terrorism.

Listen now:

Dr. Karl Kaltenthaler, University of Akron

From members of Congress leaving office; some, mid-term, to expressons of alarm on the part of federal judges; the run-up to this year's Presidential election is like no other, in recent history.

"Deeply concerning and weird" are just two of the adjectives CBS News Political Correspondent, Scott McFarlane used to describe what's been going on in the nation's capitol and beyond, as former President Trump amps up the pressure on federal judges, prosecutors, and even their families in anticipation of his upcoming election interference trial in New York. 

Campaign rhetoric has also gotten pretty dark, as the Republican former President displayed a fabricated image of his Democratic rival, President Joe Biden, bound and gagged in the back of a pickup truck on his Truth Social media platform, just a few days ago.

Listen now to find out more, as Jeanne Destro talks to CBS News Congressional Correspondent, Scott McFarlane:

Scott McFarlane, CBS News Congressional Correspondent