Regional News Stories Archive: January 2006

Intelligent Design - Interview with Professor Ken Miller
Originally aired Wednesday, January 4, 2006
Before 2005 ended, a federal judge quashed an effort by advocates of Intelligent Design to undermine the teaching of evolution in biology classrooms. Proponents of Intelligent Design - the idea life is so complex it must have required an intelligent designer - tried to use their presence on the Dover, Pennsyvania, school board to force the inclusion of an intelligent design textbook in biology classrooms. Federal Judge John Jones called their efforts "relabeled creationism" and admonished them for trying to hide their religious motives. Brown University biology professor Ken Miller has found himself somewhat close to the center of this debate for some time - and not just because the biology textbook he co-wrote is one of the most widely used in high schools across the country. He spoke with ideastream's Dan Moulthrop.

Making Change: Crossing the Policy Bridge: Interview with Randell McShepard
Originally aired Thursday, January 5, 2006
When searching for solutions to urban social problems, it's common for think tanks to pore through census data and publish reports. A group of young African American professionals here in Northeast Ohio is making the case that there's often a gap between the researchers and those they study. Their solution was to create their own think tank. As a part of Making Change: Building the Region's Future, ideastream's David C. Barnett recently spoke with Randell McShepard about his new organization, Policy Bridge.

DCB’s Sundance Diaries
Originally aired Friday, January 20, 2006
The nation's showcase for independent film opens this week. The 2006 Sundance Film Festival runs from January 19th through 29th in Park City, Utah, attracting independently-minded movie makers from around the world. This year, several Ohioans are making the trek to this tiny mountain town to screen their latest works, hoping for a shot at the big-time. ideastream's David C. Barnett will also travel to Park City to report on the fortunes of these filmmakers and to offer some perspectives on an annual event that launched the careers of Steven Soderbergh, Quentin Tarantino and many others.

Making Change: To Hike or Not to Hike the Minimum Wage
Originally aired Friday, January 20, 2006
It's been nine years since the federal government set the minimum wage at its current level of $5.15 - or less than $11,000 per year for a full-time worker. Efforts are afoot in Ohio, and a number of other states, to raise it, and as usual, the idea has both ardent support and substantial opposition. As part of Making Change: Building the Region's Future, ideastream's Cindi Deutschman-Ruiz reports.

On the Cusp of Ion Propulsion
Originally aired Thursday, January 26, 2006
It's not warp drive, but the next generation of ion propulsion drives developed by NASA Glenn could be ready for science missions in just a few years. ideastream's Karen Schaefer reports.

Remembrance of Brad Norris, Founding Chairman of Cleveland Public Radio
Originally aired Tuesday, January 31, 2006
The founding chairman of Cleveland Public Radio, Brad Norris, died of cancer Sunday at the age of 80. ideastream's Karen Schaefer has this remembrance. Also, fewer people were closer to Brad Norris than his daughter Betsie. She talked about her father's work with ideastream producer Paul Cox.