Start Your Day Positive

Could ordinary dish soap be more powerful than we give it credit for? Researchers put it up against 70% alcohol and a professional-grade disinfectant — and the results might make you look at that bottle by your sink a little differently.

Plus, Chili’s is having a major comeback, with five straight years of sales growth and plans for more restaurants — including possible expansion in Ohio. And if you noticed Al Roker suddenly disappear from TODAY, we finally know where he went. Spoiler: he had a pretty good excuse.

Also today:

It’s National Coffee Day! We’re sharing the very American reason coffee got a boost after the Boston Tea Party — and Len puts Sara to the test with a Price Is Right–style coffee game.

Today in History: Confucius was born, the five-day workweek begins to take shape, and we look at how much the workweek has changed over the years.

Win the Day: Len shares what he says is the best cure for the hiccups.

And as always, we’ll end the morning with a little encouragement and prayer.

Everything you need to know. None of the doom. Start your day with Sara & Len!

Thanks to our sponsors Northeast Factory Direct and Liberty Healthshare

Two little words could change the way your entire workplace treats each other... and researchers say there’s a reason it works.

Today’s Daily 3: the surprising ripple effect of saying “thank you,” why Gen Z may be bucking the trend when it comes to faith, and Meta’s new animated AI assistant that can actually get things done for you. Plus, Sara goes to her first Banana Ball game, Ted Williams’ record that still hasn’t been matched, and a memorable final moment on the mound for Justin Verlander.

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Thanks to our sponsors Universal Windows Direct and Liberty Healthshare

Taylor Swift’s new song “Cleveland!” is out, and we’re using it as a reason to celebrate the city — including Cleveland’s connection to rock and roll, Superman and Monday Night Football, along with the surprising number of songs that have mentioned Cleveland through the years.

We’re also talking about Meta’s latest vision for smart glasses, including camera-free Ray-Bans, new VR glasses and an AI assistant called MUSE. McDonald’s is planning an $8.5 billion global makeover, with more emphasis on chicken, breakfast, specialty drinks, AI-assisted drive-thrus and even higher-protein menu ideas.

And could exercise work nearly as well as over-the-counter medication for some types of pain? A huge analysis involving more than 220,000 people found significant pain relief from exercise 

Today in History: The beginning of the five-day work week with no reduction in pay.  We’ll also test your age radar with birthdays for Will Smith, Scottie Pippen, Heather Locklear, Mark Hamill, Anson Williams and Cheryl Tiegs.

And it’s National One-Hit Wonder Day! We count down a listener-favorite list - What is America's all time favorite One Hit Wonder?  

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Taylor Swift just put “Cleveland!” on the track list for her new release — and Northeast Ohio has a few questions.

We’ll tell you about that, plus the unusual new findings near Mount Ararat that have researchers taking another look at a formation some believe could be connected to Noah’s Ark.

Then, some genuinely encouraging news about teen mental health from the CDC’s latest national survey. Plus, we run through 10 popular home remedies for headaches — and what doctors actually say about which ones may help.

And in Today in History: Babe Ruth’s incredibly heavy bat and the surprising place the very first KFC franchise opened.

Plus something to send you into the day on the right foot.

Thanks to our sponsors Liberty Healthshare and Universal Windows Direct.

McDonald’s Monopoly is coming back, Northeast Ohio could be in for a beautiful fall color season, and a new survey shows just how overloaded many Americans feel by the everyday “mental load” of life and how we can help share the load.

Plus, in Today in History, we look back at the debut of The Jetsons and how many of the shows futuristic inventions exist today, and on this day Lewis and Clark’s returned from their trip. It was truely providential that they made it back!

It’s also Stump Day, with a chance to win two dozen Daisy Pops.

And Sara talks with her daughter Reagan about Start With Hello Week and the simple but powerful importance of reaching out, including others and choosing kindness.