Regional News Stories Archive: August 2006

National Night Out Against Crime
Originally aired Tuesday, August 1, 2006
Tonight (Tuesday), people in cities across the country will be walking their neighborhood streets in a show of solidarity against crime. National Night Out is a 23-year-old event that features flashlight walks, block parties and cookouts, all aimed at fostering a sense of community. ideastream's David C. Barnett reports now on a west side Cleveland neighborhood that's trying to maintain a sense of safety in a time of diminished police presence.

Hooking Kids on the Creative Fun of Science
Originally aired Thursday, August 3, 2006
30 years ago, the U.S. ranked third in the number of students graduating in science. Today, we've dropped to 17th. One reason for the decline, some say, is that young people simply lack exposure to the field. So in the last decade, programs have sprung up across the country designed to hook kids on the creative fun of science before they reach high school. ideastream's Lisa Ann Pinkerton visited the site of one such effort - an engineering summer camp at Cleveland State University.

Shaker Heights Windfall - Judy Rawson Interview
Originally aired Friday, August 4, 2006
This week, the city of Shaker Heights came across an $11 dollar windfall in estate taxes - that's about eight million more than it typically collects. The exact source of this small fortune isn't yet clear, though there are some exceptionally wealthy residents who recently died. ideastream's Dan Moulthrop caught up with Shaker Heights Mayor Judy Rawson yesterday to discuss the find.

Sanders Interview Preview
Originally aired Friday, August 4, 2006
It's been over a month since Dr. Eugene Sanders moved from Toledo to take the helm at the Cleveland Municipal School District. He's been getting to know his new district and home in that time, but the general public has had little time to get to know him. Sanders talks with ideastream's Dick Feagler in his first extensive interview since starting his new job. ideastream's Lisa Ann Pinkerton has this preview.

9-11 Conspiracy: Guido Stempel Interview
Originally aired Monday, August 7, 2006
According to pollsters, more than a third of Americans believe the government holds some responsibility for the 9-11 terrorist attacks. The poll, by the Scripps Howard News Service out of Ohio University, showed 36% of overall said it is either "very likely" or "somewhat likely" that federal officials either participated in the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon or took no action to stop them. Poll respondents suggest that's "because government officials wanted the United States to go to war in the Middle East." The conspiracy theories involve a cruise missile attack on the Pentagon, rather than the airplane that is said to have hit it, and government-planted explosives in the World Trade Center that caused the collapse of the towers. 36% of Americans believe this. It might sound like a lot, but maybe not with a little context. We talked with pollster Guido Stempel, professor of journalism at Ohio University.

The Medicare Doughnut Hole
Originally aired Monday, August 7, 2006
Thousands of Ohioans who signed up for the Medicare prescription drug program that began this year may soon be facing out-of-pocket expenses they didn't expect. It's called the doughnut hole, a gap in Medicare coverage that could cost individuals hundreds, even thousands of dollars. Political analysts say the issue could become a political football by election-time this November. ideastream's Karen Schaefer prepared this report.

Voinovich & Strickland Speak Out Against Gambling
Originally aired Tuesday, August 8, 2006
A Republican former governor sat down with a Democrat who hopes to be governor Monday to share their common disdain for gambling. Senator George Voinovich and Congressman Ted Strickland say the so-called Learn and Earn proposal to allow slot machines at Ohio horse tracks is a no-win game for the state. But several Cleveland-area politicians are supporting the plan. ideastream's Mark Urycki reports.

Another Potential Conflict of Interest at the Cleveland Clinic
Originally aired Wednesday, August 9, 2006
This week, the Wall Street Journal reported on yet another possible conflict of interest at the Cleveland Clinic. This time it's at their Florida facility, where a radiation therapy provider who receives a significant portion of the Clinic's oncology business has just endowed a $500,000 research chair in oncology. Some ethicists are crying foul, including Dr. Glenn McGee, the editor of the American Journal of Bioethics. Speaking to ideastream's Dan Moulthrop from his cell phone, he said there may not be an actual conflict, but with a place as important as the Cleveland Clinic, that's not the issue.

Housing, Part 2: New Housing in Cleveland
Originally aired Wednesday, August 9, 2006
Social scientists have warned that core cities can act like black holes. If too much of the population spreads out to the suburbs, the city collapses and sucks down everything around it - including the suburbs. Cleveland seemed to be in that danger in the 1990s. But Mayor Mike White's administration began offering tax abatements to attract homeowners back to the city. Now developers are trying what was recently considered impossible: building new, profitable housing developments in the city. ideastream's Mark Urycki reports.

RNC Chairman Ken Mehlman Visits Cleveland
Originally aired Thursday, August 10, 2006
The man who helped George Bush win Ohio two years ago told an audience in Cleveland Wednesday that the defeat of Joe Lieberman in the Democratic primary in Connecticut this week indicates that party is out of touch. The chairman of the Republican National Committee, Ken Mehlman, questioned the resolve of Democrats who oppose the war in Iraq, calling them "Defeat-o-crats." ideastream's Mark Urycki reports.

Terror Threats: Interview with Andrew Thomas
Originally aired Thursday, August 10, 2006
We spoke with Andrew Thomas, assistant professor of International Business at the University of Akron about Thursday's terrorist threat developments in Britain. Thomas is the author of the books Aviation Insecurity and Air Rage.

3rd Anniversary of Blackout
Originally aired Monday, August 14, 2006
Three years ago Monday, North America suffered it's largest electricity blackout ever. 40 to 50 million people were affected by a loss of power that was first sparked by a problem in Northeast Ohio. Millions of dollars have since been spent and officials say they are better prepared. ideastream's Mark Urycki reports.

Saying Goodbye to Mike Douglas
Originally aired Tuesday, August 15, 2006
On December 11th, 1961, a 36-year-old Chicago crooner named Mike Douglas debuted a Cleveland daytime talk program that would soon be syndicated nationally. The Mike Douglas Show won the singer national fame for his sweet voice and self-effacing style. Although the entertaining program eventually moved to Philadelphia, Douglas said that a part of his heart - and his family - stayed in Northeast Ohio. Douglas died at a Florida hospital last Friday at the age of 81. Now, in tribute to the popular performer, we present an excerpt of a program produced seven years ago by ideastream's David C. Barnett and Al Dahlhausen. On that occasion, Douglas and several members of his original production staff gathered to reminisce about days past.

Examining Faith: Unitarian Universalist
Originally aired Tuesday, August 15, 2006
For some Americans, religion or faith are alien terms, impenetrable and intimidating. For millions though, religious belief is at the center of their identity - a way of making sense out of the chaos of daily life. Today we being a series of occasional glimpses into the personal searches of Northeast Ohioans to find their own spirituality, or how they've learned to live without religion in their lives. We begin with a Unitarian Universalist from Akron who says he came to believe that all of us are granted only a partial view of the truth.

Eaton Introduces New Hybrid Truck
Originally aired Tuesday, August 15, 2006
Cleveland-based Eaton Corporation brought a big brown UPS truck to town this week. It's an example of a new hydraulic transmission the company is hoping will be the next big thing in fuel-saving hybrid technology. ideastream's Mark Urycki reports.

Democrats’ New Plan
Originally aired Wednesday, August 16, 2006
Pollsters and politicos have often said this year that voters are unhappy with Republican officeholders but Democrats cannot gain seats in Congress without coming up with their own alternative vision. Now a group of Democrats say they've dome that. Wednesday, the head of the House Democratic Caucus came to Cleveland to unveil a six point plan. ideastream's Mark Urycki reports.

Report Cards on Ohio’s Schools
Originally aired Wednesday, August 16, 2006
Earlier this week, the state released it's assessment of school performance overall. Now we have report cards on specific local school systems. It paints a mixed picture for Northeast Ohio. In counties like Lake and Lorain, schools met the majority of performance benchmarks. Some of Cuyahoga County's school districts are also showing improvement but many still struggle to come anywhere near state requirements. ideastream's Lisa Ann Pinkerton reports.

New Hiram Program Addresses Nursing
Originally aired Thursday, August 17, 2006
Hiram College hopes a new nursing program within it's school of science will help ease the shortage of nurses the region faces in the coming decades. The number of graduates from the program won't be enough to solve the problem entirely - but it's a start. ideastream's Lisa Ann Pinkerton reports.

Census Spiral
Originally aired Friday, August 18, 2006
Urban areas across Northeast Ohio continue to suffer population loss, according to new Census figures. Some would argue that the way to grow the region again is to attract the sort of people who helped it grow in the first place. ideastream's David C. Barnett has more.

The War Tapes
Originally aired Friday, August 18, 2006
During the last big election, political campaigns had to wonder about the effect that Michael Moore's documentary Fahrenheit 911 could have on voters. This year with 60% of Americans now wanting the troops to come home from Iraq, campaigns may question the effect of The War Tapes. That's a new documentary filmed by soldiers on duty in Iraq. It's now playing in Cleveland. ideastream's Mark Urycki spoke with one of soldiers and filed this report.

RNC Wine and Dine in Cleveland
Originally aired Wednesday, August 23, 2006
Now it's Cleveland's turn. The Site Selection Committee for the 2008 Republican National Convention has been wined and dined in New York, Minneapolis, and Tampa. Tuesday afternoon they arrived in Cleveland to the sounds of cheers and a marching band. In the evening they attended a reception at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with a few hundred Cleveland supporters. ideastream's Mark Urycki pried himself away from the food table long enough to talk with a few and file this report.

Dr. Ralph Horwitz Leaving Case
Originally aired Wednesday, August 23, 2006
Last week, Dr. Ralph Horwitz announced he's quitting his job as Dean of the Medical School at Case Western after just three years at the helm. Horwitz says his decision was driven mainly by the opportunity to head the Department of Medicine at Stanford University. He told ideastream's David Molpus that unlike Case, Stanford is increasing its medical faculty from 140 to 200.

Children’s Health: Back to School Anxiety
Originally aired Thursday, August 24, 2006
It's that time of year again. Children all over Northeast Ohio are heading back to school. Most kids are excited to see old friends and be in new classrooms. But along with that excitement, there is often anxiety and for some the tension becomes too much to handle. ideastream's Lisa Ann Pinkerton reports on back to school stress and how parents can help.

An Evening of Words, Music, and Meditation
Originally aired Friday, August 25, 2006
Several hundred people gathered on Cleveland's west side Thursday night to remember the lives of five people from Ward 17 who were murdered in the past few weeks - most recently: artists John Jackson and Masumi Hayashi. ideastream's David C. Barnett has more on an evening of words, music, and meditation.

In the Wake of the Flood
Originally aired Monday, August 28, 2006
This Thursday (Aug. 31) is the first deadline for Ohio residents affected by two major flooding events this summer to apply for federal aid. For some, it's just a matter of a few thousand dollars in insurance money to fix a wet basement. But for others, the struggle to rebuild is still a long way from over.

New Transportation Program Announced at Cuyahoga Valley Nat’l Park
Originally aired Tuesday, August 29, 2006
Federal officials chose Northeast Ohio to announce grants for a new alternative transportation program Monday. They came to the Cuyahoga Valley National Park in Peninsula to inaugurate the new plan to reduce traffic congestion in the national parks and forests. ideastream's Mark Urycki reports.

Wages of Sin
Originally aired Tuesday, August 29, 2006
Voters this November will be asked to weigh in on the profits of "sin." The Cuyahoga County Commissioners have proposed a tax increase on cigarettes to provide regular funding for arts and culture. The statewide ballot will also include a measure asking voter approval to allow slot machines in several public venues around Ohio. Backers call this proposed constitutional amendment "Learn and Earn," and say revenues will provide millions of dollars in college scholarships. ideastream's David C. Barnett has a report on this coupling of bad behavior and the public good.

Making Change: Cleveland Named Poorest Big City… Again
Originally aired Wednesday, August 30, 2006
The United States Census Bureau released it's annual report on U.S. poverty and - once again - Northeast Ohio is in the spotlight. The American Community Survey ranks Cleveland as the poorest big city in the country. As a part of Making Change: Building the Region's Future, ideastream's David C. Barnett gauges the local reaction.

Katrina Evacuee Finds Home in Cleveland
Originally aired Wednesday, August 30, 2006
A year ago, Clarice Allen's New Orleans home was steadily filling with water. And that's when her journey to Cleveland - and to becoming a Clevelander - began. When ideastream's Dan Moulthrop spoke to her yesterday, she told about how that trip began... as she made her way to the New Orleans Superdome.

Forum on Global Health
Originally aired Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Tonight (Wed), a group of Cleveland health care providers and other supporters of women's and children's health will gather at the Idea Center for a forum on global health. They'll explore the connections between local health disparities and those experienced in the wider global community with an eye to finding solutions both here and abroad. ideastream's Karen Schaefer reports.

DeWine Picks Up Union Endorsement
Originally aired Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Few people like to see orange barrels in the streets but they marked a friendly area for U.S. Senator Mike Dewine Tuesday. The Republican is facing a difficult reelection campaign but picked up an endorsement from a labor union whose workers are tearing up Euclid Avenue. ideastream's Mark Urycki reports.

Suspect in Officer Shooting to be Arraigned
Originally aired Thursday, August 31, 2006
The suspect in the murder of a Cleveland Police officer is expected to arraigned today. Police say 37-year-old Wilson Santiago shot and killed officer Jonathon Schroeder early Wednesday morning. He was the first Cleveland police officer killed on duty since Wayne Leon was murdered in 2000. ideastream's Mark Urycki filed this report.

OSU Buckeyes Start Season as #1
Originally aired Thursday, August 31, 2006
Their season opener is coming up Saturday, but already the Ohio State Buckeyes have a lot to live up to. They're ranked first in the pre-season polls. And two Buckeyes are mentioned as Heisman hopefuls. The Plain Dealer's man in Columbus, Doug Lesmerises, spent the spring and summer in the midst of all those high hopes and ideastream's Paul Cox asked him - what justifies a number one ranking?

Cleveland Highways Benefit from Turnpike Owner?
Originally aired Thursday, August 31, 2006
Gubernatorial candidate Ken Blackwell has come up with another reason to lease the Ohio Turnpike to a private company - it could pay for several large Cleveland-area highway projects. ideastream's Mark Urycki has details.