Regional News Stories Archive: October 2006

Nanotech Conferences Come to Cleveland
Originally aired Monday, October 2, 2006
This week, two conferences on nanotechnology will offer Northeast Ohio medical and manufacturing communities some new ideas about products and processes. ideastream's Karen Schaefer reports.

DeWine, Brown Face Off on Meet the Press
Originally aired Monday, October 2, 2006
Ohio Republican Senator Mike DeWine and his Democratic challenger, Congressman Sherrod Brown, faced off on national television yesterday. For roughly 35 minutes the two sparred and answered questions posed by Tim Russert on NBC's Meet the Press. ideastream's Bill Rice reports.

Accelerated Foreclosure Cases Filed
Originally aired Monday, October 2, 2006
The Cuyahoga County Prosecutor today will file the first cases under a new accelerated foreclosure program. ideastream's Bill Rice reports.

Natural Gas Prices Swing Down
Originally aired Monday, October 2, 2006
As we enter October and the weather cools, those fearing high costs of the home heating season may be seeing their fears dissipate. Natural gas prices are dropping. ideastream's Dan Moulthrop explains the apparent paradox.

Hats Off to Cleveland Kids Day
Originally aired Tuesday, October 3, 2006
This Wednesday is National Take Your Child to School Day, so the Cleveland Public Schools are rallying people throughout the city to show up to area schools and show their support. The effort coincides with national enrollment week, when the federal government is watching attendance numbers to determine how much aid districts around the country will receive. ideastream's Lisa Ann Pinkerton reports.

Children Without Health Insurance
Originally aired Tuesday, October 3, 2006
A new report on children's health insurance contains a few surprises. One is that Ohio is doing better than most states at providing insurance for children, even though nearly a quarter of a million kids still go uninsured. The report also finds that the children most likely to be without coverage actually aren't the poorest. ideastream's Dan Moulthrop has more.

Population Loss Affecting Housing Market
Originally aired Tuesday, October 3, 2006
Recent reports of population loss in Cleveland are affecting the local housing market as well. ideastream's David C. Barnett reports on some trends in the latest census figures.

New Ordinance Targets Neighborhood Nuisances
Originally aired Tuesday, October 3, 2006
Bar brawls and loud house parties are the target of a new ordinance proposed in Cleveland City Council last night. ideastream's David C. Barnett has more.

Just Wait ‘Till Next Year!
Originally aired Wednesday, October 4, 2006
For sports fans, October is a time of mixed emotions. It's early days yet on the gridiron, a heady time of optimism, even for Browns fans. There are just a few days left on the links. We're starting to see LeBron James on the sports pages again, and that's cause for hope. On the baseball diamond, in a town bereft of post-season play, well... there's a heavy dose of regret. And it was with this dose of mixed emotions - some sorrow, some optimism - Indians General Manager Mark Shapiro sat before a group of reporters yesterday, at the end of his fourth season, trying to explain what had happened. How the Indians had gone from the promise of post-season contention to a season of just 78 wins - 18 games away from the division-leading Twins.

Ohio Senate Race Closely Watched
Originally aired Wednesday, October 4, 2006
You know the U.S. Senate seat from Ohio is in play when NBC's Meet the Press decides to broadcast a debate of the two main candidates. And it's made the Washington Post's Top 20 list of the Senate seats most likely to switch parties. Polls show the battle between Incumbent Republican Mike DeWine and Democratic challenger Sherrod Brown is too close to call. ideastream's Mark Urycki reports there are a lot of factors that could swing the race.

Public Support for State Education Spending
Originally aired Wednesday, October 4, 2006
A recent poll by the education philanthropic organization Knowledge Works finds while over half of Ohioans are satisfied with their schools and universities, more than 80% favor more state spending for education. That's above healthcare for the poor, economic development and roadway infrastructure. ideastream's Lisa Ann Pinkerton has more.

Ruling Strikes Down Citizenship Proof Requirement
Originally aired Thursday, October 5, 2006
A federal judge in Cleveland yesterday struck down a new Ohio rule requiring naturalized citizens to provide proof of their citizenship if challenged by a poll worker. ideastream's Bill Rice reports.

Akron Files Lead Paint Lawsuit
Originally aired Thursday, October 5, 2006
Akron is the latest Ohio city to sue paint makers for clean-up costs associated with lead paint. East Cleveland and Toledo filed last week. Cleveland-based Sherwin Williams is one of the companies named in the cities' complaints and it's fighting back with a lawsuit of its own. ideastream's Mhari Saito reports.

Recruiting Poll Workers at Colleges
Originally aired Thursday, October 5, 2006
Across the country, the lists of qualified election poll workers is shrinking. Last May, in Cuyahoga County, the Board of Elections struggled to fill empty poll worker positions right up to the 11th hour. So this fall, it's branching out to find new recruits at local colleges. ideastream's Lisa Ann Pinkerton reports.

Campaign for Issue 19 Launches
Originally aired Thursday, October 5, 2006
With a little more than a month to go before the November 7th election, backers of a health and human services renewal levy launched their campaign for Cuyahoga County Issue 19 yesterday. ideastream's David C. Barnett has more.

Cuyahoga Valley Looks to Thin Deer in Park
Originally aired Thursday, October 5, 2006
The Cuyahoga Valley National Park is once again looking at thinning the herds of white-tailed deer in the park. Several Metroparks have used sharpshooters to reduce the deer population but the National Park has not yet done so. ideastream's Mark Urycki reports.

Inner Belt Rehab: Final Bridge Design Selected
Originally aired Friday, October 6, 2006
Local civic leaders and Ohio Department of Transportation officials have recommended a final design for a new I-90 inner belt bridge. ideastream's Lisa Ann Pinkerton has the details.

Goodyear Workers on Strike
Originally aired Friday, October 6, 2006
Some 15,000 workers have gone out on strike against Akron-based Goodyear. Sixteen plants in 10 states and Canada are affected, including Ohio facilities in Marysville, Saint Mary's, and Akron. Contract talks had been going on in Cincinnati since June, but the United Steelworkers Union - which now represents rubber workers - decided they weren't getting anywhere. ideastream's Mark Urycki has the story.

Lessons from Hussein Trials
Originally aired Friday, October 6, 2006
Testimony in the first trial of Saddam Hussein concluded last week, and judges are expected to deliver a verdict sometime in November. Meanwhile, experts are already examining the so-called trial of the century and the lessons it might hold for future proceedings. Advisors to the Iraqi Special Tribunal, scholars, diplomats and others are meeting today for a special symposium on the trial at Case Western Reserve University. ideastream's Mhari Saito reports.

Voter Registration Deadline is Tuesday
Originally aired Monday, October 9, 2006
Tuesday is the deadline for eligible Ohio voters to register with their local board of elections. ideastream's Bill Rice has more.

Collaboration Between State Universities
Originally aired Monday, October 9, 2006
With Ohio's funding for higher learning remaining relatively flat and tuition rates climbing, Cleveland State University is pushing an idea that's been kicking around for a number of years - more collaboration between state institutions on course offerings and resources. CSU is asking the state legislature to kick-start the initiative. ideastream's Lisa Ann Pinkerton reports.

Effect of Washington Scandals on Ohio Races
Originally aired Tuesday, October 10, 2006
Politicos are wondering how the scandal involving the emails and instant messages Congressman Mark Foley sent a 16-year-old congressional page might damage other Republican congressional campaigns around the country. ideastream's Mark Urycki looks at whether Washington scandals might trickle down to state races in Ohio.

Beachwood’s Aleris International Bought
Originally aired Tuesday, October 10, 2006
Regulators for the European Union have signed off on a take-over of the Beachwood-based Aleris International. The zinc and aluminum recycler and manufacturer has been purchased by the Forth Worth-based Texas Pacific Group. ideastream's Mark Urycki has details.

Library Levies on Ballot
Originally aired Tuesday, October 10, 2006
With state funding for libraries down in recent years, a number of libraries across Northeast Ohio are going to the voters in November for tax increases. ideastream's Lisa Ann Pinkerton has more.

Giant Eagle Buys 18 Tops Stores
Originally aired Wednesday, October 11, 2006
Good news for some of the employees of the Tops supermarkets that are slated to be closed in Northeast Ohio: rival company Giant Eagle will buy some of them and keep the workers. ideastream's Mark Urycki reports.

Sanders Marks 100th Day with Layoffs
Originally aired Wednesday, October 11, 2006
Cleveland Schools CEO Eugene Sanders marked his 100th day in office with a round of staff cuts and layoffs that will save the district over $5.7 million. ideastream's Lisa Ann Pinkerton has more.

New Housing Director Promises Changes
Originally aired Wednesday, October 11, 2006
City Council members got a chance yesterday to grill Cleveland's new head of Building and Housing about his plans to revamp the department following a scathing study issued last month. Housing Director Ed Rybka promised changes were coming. ideastream's David C. Barnett reports.

Ishmael & Isaac Brings Humanitarian Action
Originally aired Thursday, October 12, 2006
The intractable disputes in the Middle East seem endless, and U.S. observers with personal ties to the region can easily get caught up in the intensity of feelings each time violence breaks out, especially between Israel and its Arab neighbors. Now, a Northeast Ohio group is attempting to change the focus of the conversation here at home. Elements of the local Jewish and Arab communities are trying to put politics and passions aside, in favor of common, humanitarian action. ideastream's David C. Barnett has more.

Adding Green to the Mittal Steel Landscape
Originally aired Thursday, October 12, 2006
In three years time, a drive down the highway near the Mittal Steel Industrial complex might not be a gray as it looks today. The company is taking steps to add some green to the landscape. ideastream's Lisa Ann Pinkerton has more.

Poll Workers Train For Electronic Voting Machines
Originally aired Thursday, October 12, 2006
Poll workers are training today to learn how to use electronic voting machines for next month's general election in Cuyahoga County. A string of errors in the May primary led to a week-long delay in getting the results. ideastream's Mark Urycki filed this report.

Philip Morris Takes on Issue 18
Originally aired Thursday, October 12, 2006
Foes of a proposed tobacco tax hike to fund the arts in Cuyahoga County just got a powerful new friend. Tobacco giant Philip Morris USA is entering the local fray to take on what they call an excessive tax. ideastream's Mhari Saito reports.

New Breast Reconstruction Surgery Offers Better Results
Originally aired Monday, October 16, 2006
Thousands gathered Saturday at Voinovich Park for the annual Race for the Cure. In the fight against breast cancer, survival rates are higher than ever, but for many women survival also requires a mastectomy. Breast reconstruction is now widely available, but many of these techniques have drawbacks, and patients can find themselves dealing with further health complications and disfigurement. Some doctors say a technique now being offered locally, gives women better results, without as much risk. ideastream's Elaine Falk has more.

Blackwell, Strickland Square Off Again
Originally aired Tuesday, October 17, 2006
The last debate in the Ohio Governor's race this year descended into accusations of protecting pedophiles. Last night, Republican candidate Ken Blackwell accused his opponent of twice supporting child molesters. ideastream's Mark Urycki reports.

Rapid Station Construction Could Cost More
Originally aired Tuesday, October 17, 2006
One of Cleveland's oldest rapid transit stations has been undergoing a face-lift over the past year. But, recent construction snags could add another half million dollars to the project's final cost. ideastream's David C. Barnett reports.

State Treasurer Candidates Debate
Originally aired Thursday, October 19, 2006
The two candidates for state treasurer debated at the Cleveland City Club yesterday over who best can safeguard Ohio's tax dollars. Both Sandra O'Brien, the Ashtabula County auditor and Richard Cordray, the Franklin County treasurer, said the Bureau of Workers Compensation scandal that involved investing in rare coins and beanie babies would never have happened had they been in office. ideastream's Mark Urycki reports.

Civic Leaders Support Issue 3
Originally aired Thursday, October 19, 2006
Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson and Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones led a crowd of Northeast Ohio civic leaders yesterday in backing Ohio's Issue 3. The constitutional amendment on the November ballot would legalize gambling in Ohio and allow two slot machine parlors in the region. ideastream's Lisa Ann Pinkerton reports.

Arts Groups Offer Discounts in Support of Issue 18
Originally aired Thursday, October 19, 2006
Arts and cultural organizations around Cleveland offered free or discounted performances yesterday, with a goal of drumming up support for a ballot issue to raise cigarette taxes to fund the arts in Cuyahoga County. ideastream's Mhari Saito reports.

Beck Center Staying Put
Originally aired Thursday, October 19, 2006
The Beck Center for the Arts has announced plans to build an expanded campus in it's home base of Lakewood. This comes after weeks of speculation that the land-locked facility might move to the more spacious confines of Westlake's Crocker Park. ideastream's David C. Barnett has more.

Supreme Court Candidates Debate at City Club
Originally aired Friday, October 20, 2006
Two seats are up for grabs in the Ohio Supreme Court this year. Of the four candidates, the Ohio State Bar Association gave two of them its highest rating. And those two men are running against each other. They appeared together at the Cleveland City Club yesterday. ideastream's Mark Urycki reports.

Researcher Discusses Decreased Teen Pregnancy
Originally aired Friday, October 20, 2006
Around the country, the percentage of unmarried teens getting pregnant - particularly African-Americans - began falling precipitously in the early 1990s. What accounts for that is hotly debated. For one of the nation's most prominent sex researchers, there is little doubt about the cause. ideastream's Lisa Ann Pinkerton reports.

Testing the Waters with Armed Coast Guard
Originally aired Monday, October 23, 2006
For the first time since World War II, the U.S. Coast Guard is mounting machine guns on small boats that patrol the Great Lakes so they can better fight the war against terrorism. To train personnel on the new weapons, the Coast Guard has proposed 34 locations for periodic drills. The proposal raises questions about risks for boaters and potential harm to the environment. ideastream's Elaine Falk visited the Lorain County town of Vermillion - a Lake Erie harbor town fueled by fishing and boating businesses - and tested the waters of public opinion.

Beachwood-Based Company Buying More Shopping Centers
Originally aired Tuesday, October 24, 2006
Northeast Ohio may not have an enormous number of shopping centers, but a great many of the shopping centers around the country are owned and managed here. One of those owners, Developers Diversified Realty Corporation, is buying a few hundred more. ideastream's Mark Urycki reports.

Public Meeting Held Over Coast Guard Plan
Originally aired Tuesday, October 24, 2006
The U.S. Coast Guard held a public meeting in Cleveland last night about their new plan to mount machine guns on boats and conduct periodic training drills on the Great Lakes. ideastream's Elaine Falk was there.

Bringing Order to Airport Taxi Services
Originally aired Wednesday, October 25, 2006
The first and last impression that many visitors have of Cleveland is the man or woman behind the wheel of a taxi cab at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. In recent years, these unofficial city ambassadors have acquired a number of foreign accents, as new immigrants have found cab driving to be one of the more accessible ways they have to earn a living in their new country. Whether it will remain an easy path into the region's job market is unclear. This week, a measure was introduced in Cleveland City Council designed to bring order to an airport taxi service that some describe as chaotic. ideastream's David C. Barnett reports.

Cleveland Introduces K-12 Sex-Ed Program
Originally aired Wednesday, October 25, 2006
In Cleveland, the number of teenagers giving birth is almost double the state average. HIV infection has quadrupled in the past four years, and rates of chlamydia and gonorrhea are well above state and national averages. These statistics are alarming enough to convince authorities that only a bold approach will combat the problems of teenage sex. So the Cleveland Public Schools are implementing a new sex-ed program for all grades - kindergarten through high school seniors. No other school system in the country has anything like it. ideastream's Lisa Ann Pinkerton reports.

First 13th District Debate
Originally aired Wednesday, October 25, 2006
The Republican Party is trying not to lose any Congressional seats in Ohio. One the GOP hopes to gain is the 13th District, now held by Democrat Sherrod Brown. The two candidates for the open seat held their first face-to-face debate last night at the University of Akron. ideastream's Mark Urycki reports.

Voinovich Endorses Issue 18
Originally aired Thursday, October 26, 2006
As Election Day draws near, backers of a Cuyahoga County cigarette tax to support arts & culture got a boost yesterday from the endorsement of Ohio Senator George Voinovich. ideastream's David C. Barnett has more.

Absentee Ballot Count to Begin Shortly After Midnight Nov. 7
Originally aired Thursday, October 26, 2006
Cuyahoga County's Election Board says they will start counting a record number of absentee ballots at 12:01 on the morning of Election Day. The board had originally asked to start scanning the ballots earlier. ideastream's Mhari Saito reports.

Foltin and Sutton Debate Over 13th District Seat
Originally aired Friday, October 27, 2006
The Republican Party is trying to hold on to its control of Congress but as many as five seats held by Republicans in Ohio are considered under serious challenge. On the other hand, the GOP hopes to gain one seat with one of the party's more moderate candidates. That's in the 13th district in Northeast Ohio - the seat Democrat Sherrod Brown is giving up in his run for the Senate. The two candidates for the open seat held three debates this week. ideastream's Mark Urycki reports.

Wal-Mart Brings $4 Prescriptions to Ohio
Originally aired Friday, October 27, 2006
314 drugs just got cheaper in Ohio. Wal-Mart announced yesterday that it is bringing it's $4 prescription offer to 12 more states. Other pharmacies have followed suit, parading discount plans of their own. Some Ohio drug stores are even offering prescriptions for free. ideastream's Elaine Falk has more.

Secretary of State Candidates Debate at City Club
Originally aired Friday, October 27, 2006
Ohio's candidates for Secretary of State faced off at a City Club debate yesterday, ideastream's Lisa Ann Pinkerton reports.

Case Science Profs Endorse Sawyer
Originally aired Friday, October 27, 2006
Science Professors at Case Western Reserve University have endorsed a candidate for an Ohio Board of Education seat. Their candidate is running to unseat a leading proponent of the concept of Intelligent Design. Both candidates spoke on 90.3's The Sound of Ideas yesterday morning. ideastream's Lisa Ann Pinkerton reports.

Statehouse News Bureau: The Pros and Cons of Issue 3 - Part 1
Originally aired Monday, October 30, 2006
For the third time in 16 years, supporters of expanded gambling in Ohio are pushing a ballot issue that would legalize slot machines here. Backers are spending a record high amount - about $20 million - to convince Ohioans to vote yes. Critics know they're being outspent 20-to-1 at this point, but they believe they still have a good shot to defeat the measure. Today, Ohio Public Radio's Bill Cohen begins a 2-part series on the pros and cons of State Issue 3, and who's behind each side.

Big Tobacco Fights Back
Originally aired Monday, October 30, 2006
Campaign finance documents show interest groups are spending lots of cash for and against smoking bans and a cigarette tax on Tuesday's ballot. It's a trend this year that experts are seeing around the country as Big Tobacco decides to fight back. ideastream's Mhari Saito reports.

DeWine, Brown Hold Last Debate
Originally aired Monday, October 30, 2006
The two Ohio candidates for the U.S. Senate, Republican Mike DeWine and Democrat Sherrod Brown, held their last debate Friday in Cleveland. Today, the two are active on the campaign trail in their last week before the election. ideastream's Mark Urycki reports.

Cleveland 7th Most Dangerous City
Originally aired Tuesday, October 31, 2006
The city of Cleveland has moved up from the 12th most most dangerous city in the nation to 7th, according to a new study by Morgan Quinto Press. ideastream's Lisa Ann Pinkerton reports.

Absentee Ballots Delivered Regardless of Postage
Originally aired Tuesday, October 31, 2006
There's been another ruling that may affect the outcome of elections in Ohio. This time it was made by the United State Postal Service in Washington. ideastream's Mark Urycki reports.

Issue 18: Eric Fingerhut Interview
Originally aired Tuesday, October 31, 2006
While Issue 3 relates to gambling, Issue 18 has to do with the arts - specifically, how to fund them. It proposes to do so by raising the cigarette tax. But is it fair to single out smokers in this way? How voters answer that question may have more to do with the the fate of Issue 18 than whether the arts need help. As the election draws near, we thought it worthwhile to present the arguments once more. Tomorrow we'll hear from a leading opponent of the tax. Today, though, we have State Senator Eric Fingerhut, campaign coordinator for Issue 18. We asked Fingerhut whether it is realistic to expect the arts to have the level of support they have enjoyed in the past given Cleveland's decline in population and loss of many businesses that used to underwrite the arts.

Statehouse News Bureau: The Pros and Cons of Issue 3 - Part 2
Originally aired Tuesday, October 31, 2006
State Issue 3 on the November 7th ballot has a lot riding on it. The plan to legalize more than 30,000 slot machines at race tracks in the state and two locations in Cleveland would provide revenue for college scholarships - though how much is hotly disputed. Critics of the issue say anything good about the plan would be over-shadowed by a long list of problems. That's the focus of Ohio Public Radio's Bill Cohen's report today - the second in a two-part series.