Regional News Stories Archive: April 2007

Ohio Home Foreclosures Soaring
Originally aired Monday, April 2, 2007
The number of foreclosure filings in Ohio is soaring, and advocates for homeowners say - more and more, it is families that are solidly middle class that are being hurt. There are calls for more government regulation of lenders, but the lenders insist they are not the main problem. Statehouse correspondent Bill Cohen reports.

Women’s Final Four
Originally aired Monday, April 2, 2007
Last night's Final Four match ups in Cleveland are sending a team that's never made it to a championship to face one that's played the final game 12 times. Ideastream's Lisa Ann Pinkerton reports.

Ohio Schools Losing Global Competitiveness
Originally aired Monday, April 2, 2007
In February, Ohio lawmakers received a report that said the state is losing its global competitiveness in education. The research was conducted by the nonprofit Achieve, Inc, and it concluded that Ohio needs significant reform in order to make its schools world class. There's plenty of criticism of American education from LOCAL residents to go around, so we felt it might be instructive to get some foreigners' impressions. ideastream's education reporter Dan Bobkoff has our story.

University of Tennessee Wins NCAA Women’s Tournament
Originally aired Wednesday, April 4, 2007
The University of Tennessee won the 2007 Women's NCAA Basketball Championship last night, bringing home a seventh title for the Lady Vols. ideastream's Lisa Ann Pinkerton reports.

Statehouse News Bureau: Ohio AG Accused of Power Grab
Originally aired Wednesday, April 4, 2007
Ohio's Attorney General, a democrat, is trying to kick most of the members of the Public Utilities Commission out of office, at least for awhile. That's not sitting well with some Republicans who are accusing the Attorney General of a power grab. Statehouse Correspondent Bill Cohen reports.

Statehouse News Bureau: Supporters of School Voucher Program Visit Columbus
Originally aired Wednesday, April 4, 2007
Governor Strickland is proposing an end to the school voucher program everywhere but its birthplace - Cleveland. That move is sparking a backlash among parents and students who use the voucher program to get out of struggling public schools. Some traveled to Columbus yesterday to push legislators to preserve the program. Statehouse correspondent Bill Cohen reports.

The Blogosphere of Northeast Ohio
Originally aired Thursday, April 5, 2007
Online diaries known as blogs have become commonplace in the cyberworld. From news and sports interests to almost a limitless number of personal interests, people by the millions are putting their thoughts and ideas up on the internet for others to read and react to. ideastream's Tasha Flournoy introduces us to some of the bloggers here in Northeast Ohio.

New Summer Dance Festival in Akron
Originally aired Thursday, April 5, 2007
When the Ohio Ballet folded last year, it appeared to be the end of a 30-year-old tradition in Akron: free outdoor performances in the city parks. But the city has announced a new Summer Dance festival this year featuring four dance companies. ideastream's Mark Urycki reports.

Positive Trend in New Census Numbers
Originally aired Thursday, April 5, 2007
As Northeast Ohio struggles with a sluggish economy, the population continues to flee the urban core for other cities and sometimes other states. But, U.S. Census figures released this morning also show at least one positive trend. ideastream's David C. Barnett has more.

Study Shows Banks Waiting to Reveal Foreclosures
Originally aired Friday, April 6, 2007
Rising numbers of foreclosures across Ohio mean banks and mortgage companies are finding themselves stuck with more and more homes - and the bills required to keep the properties up to code. Housing activists say some lenders are avoiding these responsibilities by taking too long to formally tell the county that they've repossessed the property. A new study out of Case Western Reserve University's NEO CANDO project may shed some light. It found 2,000 properties in Cuyahoga County - 1,100 in the city of Cleveland - that have been repossessed by mortgage companies at sheriff sale, but have been waiting months, if not over a year, for lenders to file their deeds. ideastream's Mhari Saito reports.

Rediscovering the Lost Boys
Originally aired Monday, April 9, 2007
Ever since the Lost Boys of Sudan arrived in U.S. cities six years ago, their stories of fleeing on foot from the decades-long civil war only to face new challenges adjusting to Western life in America has been the subject of articles, documentaries and even novels. They're called lost boys because most fled from their families, or were orphaned during the trek. The UN and Catholic Charities helped bring about 30 Lost Boys to Cleveland. And, it's been a tumultuous few years for their community. ideastream's Dan Bobkoff has the story now of how a tragedy helped Cleveland rediscover its lost boys.

Surviving the Bataan Death March
Originally aired Monday, April 9, 2007
We've seen many stories about war time prisoners in recent years, but for some Northeast Ohioans, those news headlines bring back some strong personal memories. Today, some former P.O.W.s from World War II will be honored at a lunchtime ceremony in Parma. ideastream's David C. Barnett has this profile of a local veteran who survived the notorious Bataan Death March.

I’m An American Too: Stories of Minority Veterans
Originally aired Tuesday, April 10, 2007
History books, movies and TV shows are filled with stories praising American soldiers who fought nobly for their country during the Second World War. But, there are many veterans who will tell a different tale. It's the story of service men who found themselves defending the freedom of others in foreign countries, while defending their own self respect back at home. ideastream's David C. Barnett has more on the mixed feelings of some Northeast Ohio vets.

Success Still Unknown on Smoke Free Program
Originally aired Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Since Ohio's smoking ban went into effect, the program Smoke Free Greater Cleveland has offered folks help in kicking the habit. Initial data on the program is in, yet its success is still unknown. ideastream's health reporter Lisa Ann Pinkerton has more.

Indians to Play Home Series in Milwaukee
Originally aired Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Last weekend's Easter snowstorm not only postponed the Indians' entire home opener series against the Seattle Mariners. But now we got word the Indians will be traveling to Milwaukee's Miller Park to play the Anaheim Angels - that stadium, thankfully, has a roof. ideastream's Dan Bobkoff has more.

WWII Vets Get Preview of Ken Burns’ The War
Originally aired Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Some Northeast Ohio Veterans got a chance to revisit a piece of their past yesterday. Ken Burns, known for films such as The Civil War and Baseball, brought a preview of his latest production to the Idea Center in downtown Cleveland. The new documentary chronicles some personal stories of World War II. ideastream's David C. Barnett reports.

Observing Molecular Interactions: Professor David Wilson Interview
Originally aired Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Professor David Wilson has spent his career studying things we can't see. His research at Case Western Reserve University focuses on cutting-edge bio-imaging technology. Bio-imaging has moved past x-rays and CAT scans to the point where doctors can see inside your cells and observe first-hand complex molecular interactions. Advancements in this technology could mean big changes in the way some diseases are detected and treated. ideastream's Eric Wellman spoke with Professor Wilson about this technology.

Statehouse News Bureau: Stemming the Foreclosure Tide
Originally aired Wednesday, April 11, 2007
The number of foreclosure filings in Ohio ballooned by nearly 24% last year. A group of two dozen lawmakers, business leaders and others have come together to figure out what can be done to help Ohioans who've lost their homes and to stop it from happening to others. Statehouse correspondent Karen Kasler reports.

A Look at Northeast Ohio Podcasting
Originally aired Thursday, April 12, 2007
The tech savvy got the ultimate complement a couple years ago when the Oxford English Dictionary officially inducted the word podcast. But podcasting is a tough thing to define - we know it's an MP3 that can be downloaded. Podcasts are as diverse as they are numerous, but most podcasters don't have extensive resources - for most, it's a hobby and sometimes a passion. ideastream's Tasha Flournoy introduces us to some podcasters in Northeast Ohio.

New Report Calls for Performance Pay for Teachers
Originally aired Thursday, April 12, 2007
A new report from the Center for Teaching Quality says it's time for teacher pay to be tied to performance. It's not a new idea - the concept has generated controversy in the past. But this time, it's the teachers calling for the change. ideastream's education reporter Dan Bobkoff has more.

Saved from the Holocaust: A Survivor’s Story
Originally aired Thursday, April 12, 2007
Roman Frayman of Beachwood has spent the past 25 years teaching kids about the holocaust. He approaches the holocaust from a personal, rather than an academic, perspective. And he'll be present this Sunday in Cleveland at one of the many Holocaust remembrance events across the country. Frayman was taken to a work camp at the age of three. His mother hid him in a potato sack to elude the Nazis. She eventually snuck him out in a suit case and he went to live with a Christian woman who treated him like a son. That's what Frayman says ultimately saved his life. ideastream's Eric Wellman has more.

Goodyear Studying New Akron Headquarters Proposal
Originally aired Thursday, April 12, 2007
Goodyear is looking at an option that could keep them in the city of Akron for a while. America's largest tire company is studying a proposal to build a new headquarters in the city. ideastream's Mark Urycki reports.

The Downtown Comeback
Originally aired Friday, April 13, 2007
The City of Cleveland has been attracting new residents to its downtown, showing a steady growth in housing for the past 15 years. The jump in downtown living comes despite a loss of 26,000 residents since the year 2000. Yesterday evening the editor of Governing Magazine spoke at a forum at Cleveland State University. He says we may be needlessly hung up about some roadblocks to revitalizing downtowns. ideastream's Mark Urycki reports.

Local Leaders to Meet on Bio-Medical Industry
Originally aired Monday, April 16, 2007
Tomorrow night, local leaders from the medical, academic, and philanthropic sectors are meeting to plan ways to make Northeast Ohio an important center of the bio-medical industry. They're expected to announce a new collaboration with another city. Building a cluster of life science companies in the Cleveland area is a two-decade old dream but its supporters say they're more optimistic than ever. ideastream's Mark Urycki reports.

Applegate Named Head of North Shore Federation of Labor
Originally aired Monday, April 16, 2007
For the first time a woman has the top job at the labor group formerly known as the Cleveland AFL-CIO. Harriet Applegate will head up The North Shore Federation of Labor. She replaces John Ryan, who is leaving to work for Senator Sherrod Brown. ideastream's Tasha Flournoy tells us how Applegate plans to continue the group's organizing mission.

Raising Awareness of Organ Harvesting
Originally aired Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Members of a Chinese religious group are hoping that a pair of forums being held in Cleveland today will boost awareness of a disturbing human rights issue. The spiritual practice known as Falun Gong was officially banned by the Chinese government in 1998. It's claimed that practitioners are being imprisoned and executed so that their organs can be harvested and sold to transplant patients - many of them from the west. ideastream's Lisa Ann Pinkerton reports.

The Captive Audience of the Barber’s Chair
Originally aired Tuesday, April 17, 2007
How's this for a captive audience: your target client, stuck in a chair with nothing else to do but listen to your pitch for at least 30 minutes - and no remote to change the channel. The hot new marketing tool: the barber's chair. Public health officials around the country say it works and they are turning to beauticians and barbers to deliver health information to hard-to-reach populations. ideastream's Mhari Saito reports.

Juvenile Justice Reform
Originally aired Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Johanna Orozco was released from MetroHealth Medical Center yesterday after the first round of a series of surgeries that will attempt to reconstruct her face. The 18-year-old was the victim of a shotgun blast allegedly fired by an ex-boyfriend who was on home arrest. The high profile nature of this case has prompted the Cuyahoga County Juvenile Court to reform some of its procedures. ideastream's David C. Barnett has more.

Ohio Public Radio: Fines Coming for Smoking Ban Violations
Originally aired Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Ohio businesses could soon be fined for violating the new statewide smoking ban. The state panel that approves rules written by agencies will allow the Ohio Department of Health's new enforcement rules to go into effect. But as Ohio Public Radio's Jo Ingles reports, some groups, even those that worked to pass the new law, are not happy with the final outcome.

Bio-Science Collaboration with Pittsburgh Announced
Originally aired Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Local economic development leaders want to break down borders and join forces with Pittsburgh. The Cleveland-based business accelerator Bio-Enterprise has reached out to its counterpart in the Steel City to collaborate on growing bio-science start-up companies. The announcement came yesterday during a conference at the Cleveland Clinic to plot out the area's future in the medical industry. ideastream's Mark Urycki reports.

Bond Issued for Home Demolition
Originally aired Wednesday, April 18, 2007
A $6 million bond hits the street this week, money earmarked for the City of Cleveland to knock down dangerous and abandoned properties. City officials say it's the first time they're issuing bonds just for demolition and blight removal. Neighbors and housing activists welcome the money. But they warn City Hall must reform its Department of Building and Housing if the job of tackling the city's worst homes is really going to get done. ideastream's Mhari Saito reports.

Residential Tax Abatement Policy Renewed
Originally aired Wednesday, April 18, 2007
A majority of Cleveland's City Council agreed yesterday to renew the city's residential tax abatement policy. ideastream's Economics Reporter Tasha Flournoy reports.

Ecology Coatings Featured in Fast Company Magazine
Originally aired Thursday, April 19, 2007
A tiny Akron company that has been recognized by Time Magazine and the Wall Street Journal has now been spotlighted by Fast Company Magazine. Ecology Coatings is featured in a recent issue that recognizes what the magazine calls "50 profit-driven solutions for what ails the planet." The company has fewer than a half-dozen employees. ideastream's Mark Urycki reports.

Competitive Year for College Acceptance
Originally aired Thursday, April 19, 2007
If you've got a high school senior living under your roof who's been accepted to college they should be feeling really proud of themselves. Not just because they were accepted, but because they were accepted in a year that was ultra competitive. It comes down to the fact that baby boomers had kids and those kids are now trying to get into college. Get this statistic - Harvard turned down more than a thousand applicants with perfect scores on the math portion of the SAT. But this trend goes far beyond the Ivies to schools that aren't used to mailing out stacks of rejection letters. ideastream's Eric Wellman spoke with Susan Dileno, the Vice President of Enrollment Management and Baldwin Wallace College. She told us her school is definitely getting more competitive.

Hard to Climb Barriers to Social Justice
Originally aired Friday, April 20, 2007
Northeast Ohio plays host to a gathering of Chinese-American leaders this weekend. They'll be meeting in Cleveland to discuss matters of social justice at a time when the color of your skin and the nature of your accent are still barriers that can be hard to climb. ideastream's David C. Barnett has more.

New Republican For Cuyahoga Board of Elections
Originally aired Friday, April 20, 2007
The Cuyahoga County Republican Party has selected a Cleveland attorney to serve on the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections. ideastream's Tasha Flournoy has more on the appointment of Jeff Hastings.

Wind Power Potential in Ohio Stronger Than Originally Thought
Originally aired Friday, April 20, 2007
New Wind maps and analysis by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory reveal Ohio's potential to generate electricity from wind power is stronger than researchers first thought. ideastream's Lisa Ann Pinkerton reports.

Fingerhut Wants Change in University Operation
Originally aired Friday, April 20, 2007
The top official overseeing higher education in Ohio says he wants to change the way state universities operate. The new Chancellor of the Board of Regents, Eric Fingerhut, told a Cleveland audience that he wants the schools to better serve the needs of the Ohio economy. ideastream's Mark Urycki reports.

Opera in Movie Houses
Originally aired Monday, April 23, 2007
Opera Cleveland's debut season started this past weekend with performances of Salome. The company is the result of last year's merger between Opera Cleveland and Lyric Opera Cleveland. The local group has reason to believe it will have a bang-up year based on the success in the region of New York's Metropolitan Opera. Earlier this year the Met initiated "live" high definition simulcasts of its Saturday matinees in movie theatres across the country, including theaters in Cleveland. Opera buffs packed the theaters and that wave of popularity may be just the ticket to give Opera Cleveland the lift it needs for a successful season. ideastream's Mhari Saito reports on this new phenomenon.

Strickland Wants Homestead Tax Exemption Expanded
Originally aired Monday, April 23, 2007
Governor Ted Strickland and Lieutenant Governor Lee Fisher have been crisscrossing the state trying to build popular support for their budget proposal. They're pushing what is probably the easiest part of it to sell: tax breaks for seniors citizens. ideastream's Mark Urycki caught up with the campaign in Akron and filed this report.

Parents of Conjoined Twins Speak
Originally aired Monday, April 23, 2007
Over the next weeks and months a team of 50 doctors and nurses at University Hospitals will conduct a series of surgeries to separate twins joined at the head. The three-year-old girls came to the U.S. from Romania with their parents more than two years ago, hoping to have the procedure done at a Dallas hospital but doctors there eventually declined. The parents have guarded their privacy and shunned most of the news media but they made an exception granting several interviews last Friday, including one with ideastream's Dan Moulthrop. Dan asked Alin Dogaru, a Byzantine Catholic priest, and his wife Claudia, a nurse, about their fears as they await this high-risk surgery for their daughters.

Third Federal Goes Public
Originally aired Monday, April 23, 2007
Third Federal Savings and Loan goes public today. The Cleveland-based company will offer a billion dollars in stock for public trading. ideastream's Economics Reporter Tasha Flournoy shares the company's new business plans.

State and Local Face Off Over Eminent Domain
Originally aired Monday, April 23, 2007
Northeast Ohio business and government leaders plan to meet with state legislators today to discuss how proposed changes to eminent domain rules will impact economic development. ideastream's Bill Rice has more about this possible face off between state government and local officials.

Making Change: Forum Held On Eminent Domain
Originally aired Tuesday, April 24, 2007
The latest round in a continuing series of battles between cities and the State for control of local affairs was waged yesterday in a forum on the use of eminent domain for economic development. Both the Ohio Senate and House are considering new rules which could affect this controversial practice. As a part of Making Change, ideastream's David C. Barnett has more.

New Curfew Set for Cleveland Teens
Originally aired Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Cleveland City Council took steps last night to try and curb rising youth violence and crime in the city. As expected, council members passed an emergency ordinance that will force young teens off the street earlier at night. ideastream's Dan Bobkoff reports.

Akron to Celebrate Neighbors Days
Originally aired Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Many people plan to gather with friends and family over the Memorial Day Weekend. Officials in Akron are hoping they'll meet with their neighbors. ideastream's Mark Urycki reports it's an idea the city's Mayor picked up in Europe.

Businesses Re-examining Employee Policies in Wake of VT Shootings
Originally aired Wednesday, April 25, 2007
In the wake of the Virginia Tech shootings, universities across the country have been re-examining their policies for dealing with troubled students. And many businesses are following suit, looking at their policies for handling employees who may be acting strangely or appear to need mental help. Tracy Tillotson deals with these workplace issues on a daily basis. ideastream's Eric Wellman spoke to Tillotson, the director of Assist Now, an employee assistance program that's a division of Recovery Resources here in Cleveland.

Jury Selection to Begin in Artists Murder Case
Originally aired Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Jury selection is set to begin this morning in the trial of the man accused of murdering two prominent Cleveland artists last summer. ideastream's David C. Barnett reviews the case for us.

The Next Small Thing: Nanotechnology
Originally aired Wednesday, April 25, 2007
More than 500 researchers from the business and academic sectors are meeting in Akron this week to discuss what they think is the next big thing. Or maybe the next small thing: nanotechnology. They say Ohio is already a leader in the technology that is changing manufacturing, as ideastream's Mark Urycki reports.

Local Reaction to Cleveland Plus
Originally aired Thursday, April 26, 2007
Northeast Ohioans are reacting to a new campaign to market the Northeast Ohio Region. The "Cleveland Plus" campaign has been more than a year in the making. ideastream's Bill Rice reports.

WTO Chief Economist Addresses Cleveland Audience
Originally aired Thursday, April 26, 2007
The chief economist of the World Trade Authority told a Cleveland audience today that big multi-lateral trade agreements are stuck, wanting for leadership. Patrick Low says that leaves the WTO a bystander in the many smaller trade deals going on and the cost of trade goes up. ideastream's Mark Urycki reports.

Nanotech Players Meet in Akron
Originally aired Thursday, April 26, 2007
Some of the players in the nanotech industry have been meeting in Akron to share ideas and consider its prospects. ideastream's Mark Urycki reports.

Curbing Rabid Raccoons
Originally aired Thursday, April 26, 2007
More than $200,000 is being spent in the next few weeks in Northeast Ohio to curb rabid raccoons. ideastream Health Reporter Lisa Ann Pinkerton has more.

New Branding Push for NE Ohio: Joe Roman Interview
Originally aired Thursday, April 26, 2007
Over the coming months many people across the country will see advertising, promoting the benefits of Northeast Ohio both as a tourist destination and a place to do business. For the past two years, many of the region's tourism and economic development officials have been working together to come up with a campaign to market the region to outsiders. It's going to be officially unveiled later this morning. To give us a preview, ideastream's Eric Wellman was joined by Joe Roman, President and CEO of the Greater Cleveland Partnership.

Cleveland Plus Unveiled
Originally aired Thursday, April 26, 2007
A coalition of tourism and economic development groups is preparing to release details of its new region-wide marketing campaign later this morning. It's developed the brand-name "Cleveland Plus" with the hope of selling Northeast Ohio to visitors and investors. ideastream's economics reporter Tasha Flournoy has more.

Border Detainees to Speak at Forum
Originally aired Friday, April 27, 2007
While a fence is being built along the U.S. - Mexican border to stem the flow of illegal immigration, a different sort of border dispute is happening to the north. The detention of some American citizens returning from Canada, due to post-9/11 security measures, is the basis of a public forum, taking place this weekend. ideastream's David C. Barnett reports.

Cifelli Pleads Guilty in Double Murder
Originally aired Friday, April 27, 2007
Jacob Cifelli has pleaded guilty to the murders of Cleveland artists Masumi Hayashi and John Jackson, last summer. Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Bill Mason announced yesterday that the 29-year-old will spend the rest of his life in prison. ideastream's David C. Barnett has more.

Cleveland Plus Introduced 3,000 Feet Above City
Originally aired Friday, April 27, 2007
A group of area business development leaders went a bit above and beyond the usual in introducing the latest strategy to market the Northeast Ohio region. The Cleveland Plus campaign was officially unveiled yesterday 3,000 feet above the city. ideastream's economics reporter Tasha Flournoy has more.

What Can Cleveland Learn from St. Louis?
Originally aired Friday, April 27, 2007
For certain Cleveland's not alone in its marketing campaign. Pittsburgh, Milwaukee, Kansas City, and St. Louis are also pitching their regions to a national audience. St. Louis is actually one of the cities planners in Cleveland turned to while they were shaping the Cleveland Plus campaign. What's remarkable about the St. Louis case is the amount of positive attention the city has received in the national media including the New York Times and USA Today. We were wondering what can Cleveland learn from another midwestern city that's also attempting an image makeover. ideastream's Eric Wellman spoke with Haim Mano, Associate Professor of Marketing at the University of Missouri St. Louis.

Low-Cost Akron Dental Clinic Closing
Originally aired Monday, April 30, 2007
In Akron tomorrow, the low-cost dental clinic that's served uninsured residents is closing it's doors. This is the second time in three years the clinic has been forced to close due to lack of funds. As ideastream's Health Reporter Lisa Ann Pinkerton reports, the closing once again leaves those in need fewer options.

First Responders Get Training
Originally aired Monday, April 30, 2007
People who respond to emergencies first, like firefighters and EMS personnel, received a range of training last Friday on protecting themselves as well as those they save. ideastream Health Reporter Lisa Ann Pinkerton has more.

Graduating Cadets to Become Cleveland Police
Originally aired Monday, April 30, 2007
45 graduating cadets are set to begin work as Cleveland police officers - the first in five years. ideastream's Dan Bobkoff was at the graduation ceremony Friday, and has this report.