Regional News Stories Archive: May 2007

Hospitals Collaborate on Workers
Originally aired Tuesday, May 1, 2007
With the growing shortage of nurses and other medical professionals, a group of local hospitals has teamed up to keep a healthy roster of medical workers in the pipeline. ideastream's Economics Reporter Tasha Flournoy tells us about the collaboration.

Council Pledges Commitment to Stem Youth Violence
Originally aired Tuesday, May 1, 2007
In light of the recent shooting that killed a 15-year-old would-be robber, Cleveland's City Council is pledging a renewed commitment to stem youth violence. ideastream's Lisa Ann Pinkerton reports.

U.S. Congress Pushing Cleaner Coal
Originally aired Tuesday, May 1, 2007
The Midwest has the largest concentration of coal-fired power plants in the nation. Some in Congress are now pushing new technology they say will make coal cleaner and more efficient. It's one component in the battle to reduce greenhouse gasses that cause global warming. Benjamin Shaw Reports from Capitol Hill.

Statehouse News Bureau: Smoking Ban Enforcement Starts This Week
Originally aired Tuesday, May 1, 2007
Nearly six months after voters approved a statewide smoking ban, authorities are going to begin to enforce it this week. On Thursday, bars, restaurants and most private clubs will be subject to penalties if patrons light up. Jo Ingles reports from Columbus.

Statehouse News Bureau: Ohio Campus Security Task Force Meets
Originally aired Tuesday, May 1, 2007
An Ohio campus security task force, that was formed in the wake of the Virginia Tech shootings, met for the first time yesterday. Dozens of task force members from across the state participated by plugging into a video conference. Statehouse correspondent Bill Cohen also plugged in and filed this report.

Tape Shows National Guard Ordered to Fire at KSU
Originally aired Wednesday, May 2, 2007
This Friday marks the 37th anniversary of the killings of four students at Kent State University by members of the Ohio National Guard. One of the nine students who was wounded that day says a new listen to an old tape recording shows that the troops were ordered to fire. ideastream's Mark Urycki reports.

Ohio AG Begins Search for Unethical Student Loans
Originally aired Wednesday, May 2, 2007
Ohio Attorney General Marc Dann is getting ready to comb through thousands of documents in search of improper relationships between universities and student loan providers. ideastream's Bill Rice reports.

Cuyahoga Gets Air Quality Grade of F
Originally aired Wednesday, May 2, 2007
The American Lung Association's annual air pollution report card is out and it looks like most of Northeast Ohio needs serious improvement. ideastream's David C. Barnett has some details.

National City Bank Expanding
Originally aired Wednesday, May 2, 2007
Cleveland-based National City Bank is expanding. The city's second-largest bank is buying a Chicago institution. ideastream's Mark Urycki reports.

Possible Relationship Blooming Between Clinic and Akron General
Originally aired Wednesday, May 2, 2007
The Cleveland Clinic and Akron General Medical Center say a relationship could be blooming between the two hospital systems. ideastream Health Reporter Lisa Ann Pinkerton has more.

Sterling Jewelers & First Energy To Stay in Akron
Originally aired Thursday, May 3, 2007
The second and third largest private sector employers in the city of Akron have announced a deal that keeps both companies headquartered in the city. ideastream's Mark Urycki has details.

Clinic Doctor Among 100 Most Influential
Originally aired Thursday, May 3, 2007
Time Magazine has released it's 100 Most Influential People of 2006, and a Clevelander is among them. Dr. Steve Nissen chairs Cardiovascular Medicine at the Cleveland Clinic. He recently spoke with ideastream's Health Reporter Lisa Ann Pinkerton about making the cut.

UH to Take Lead for Nationwide E-Prescriptions
Originally aired Thursday, May 3, 2007
Doctors at University Hospitals have been prescribing medications electronically for the past three years. As Health Reporter Lisa Ann Pinkerton reports, the federal government is tapping the health system to establish rules for nationwide "e-prescribing" by 2009.

Making Change: Cultivating a New Ethnic Mix
Originally aired Friday, May 4, 2007
This weekend, Cleveland hosts a national conference on the changing face of American cities. Delegates will be touring Northeast Ohio's new ethnic enclaves and discussing how cities are adjusting to the latest waves of immigrants. Some are seeing real benefits in actively recruiting certain populations. As a part of Making Change, ideastream's David C. Barnett sets the stage for the conference.

Doctors Successfully Begin Independent Circulation in Conjoined Twins
Originally aired Friday, May 4, 2007
Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital says doctors have successfully begun creating independent circulation in conjoined twins they're working to separate. ideastream Health Reporter Lisa Ann Pinkerton reports.

New Board of Elections Members To Be Sworn in Monday
Originally aired Friday, May 4, 2007
The Cuyahoga County Board of Elections has no members, no permanent director, and no deputy director. But the office is holding primary elections on Tuesday. The Interim director says she has been working very closely with the Secretary of State to make it work. ideastream's Mark Urycki reports.

Suicide Prevention
Originally aired Monday, May 7, 2007
The latest statistics from the Ohio Department of Mental Health reveal a disturbing trend among our state's teenagers. According to the Department, one in five high school students has considered committing suicide, and about one in 12 has actually tried. High schools in Beachwood, Shaker and Lakewood are among 50 schools in the Greater Cleveland area that are taking part in a program called Recognizing Adolescent Depression. It's taught over the course of two days by the Suicide Prevention Education Alliance. ideastream's Eric Wellman has more.

New Board for Tuesday Primary
Originally aired Monday, May 7, 2007
Ohio holds a primary election tomorrow. It's considered one of the smallest elections in a year before the Presidential race kicks into gear. But that's a welcome relief to poll workers in Cuyahoga County. ideastream's Mark Urycki reports.

Flats Eminent Domain Case to Begin Trial Today
Originally aired Monday, May 7, 2007
The Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority's bid to obtain a portion of Cleveland's East Flats under eminent domain is scheduled for trial today. ideastream's economics reporter Tasha Flournoy has more.

New Study on Sleep Apnea
Originally aired Monday, May 7, 2007
15,000 Americans are at least a hundred pounds overweight and a recent study at University Hospitals reveals 91% of them might suffer from Sleep Apnea as a result. That's when a person stops breathing periodically throughout the night. ideastream Health Reporter Lisa Ann Pinkerton reports.

Ford Casting Plant Closing
Originally aired Tuesday, May 8, 2007
Ford Motor Company plans to close a casting plant near Cleveland in 2009, as a part of its "Way Forward" Restructuring plan. Additionally, an engine plant set to go back on-line with a new model this week, will instead be idled for a year. ideastream's Lisa Ann Pinkerton reports.

Statehouse News Bureau: The Push for More Health Insurance
Originally aired Tuesday, May 8, 2007
Advocates of government social welfare programs are touting a new poll to push state legislators to provide more health insurance to financially-strapped families with children. Some lawmakers say they're already doing it in the latest state budget proposal, but the advocates want even more. Statehouse correspondent Bill Cohen reports.

New Board of Election Members Sworn In
Originally aired Tuesday, May 8, 2007
Cuyahoga County now has a new Board of Elections just in time for today's primary. The two Democrats and two Republicans were sworn into office yesterday by Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner. She fired the last four after vote counting problems last year. She says the eyes of the world will be watching Ohio and particularly Cuyahoga County in next year's Presidential election. ideastream's Mark Urycki filed this report.

Flats Eminent Domain Opening Arguments
Originally aired Tuesday, May 8, 2007
A long-awaited trial to decide whether nine properties in Cleveland's East Flats district can be taken by eminent domain got underway yesterday. Property owners and the Port Authority sat in the court room as attorneys for both sides voiced a series of carefully crafted opening arguments. ideastream's Economics Reporter Tasha Flournoy has more on what lies ahead.

The Economic Potential of NE Ohio Immigrants
Originally aired Wednesday, May 9, 2007
Last weekend, a national conference titled The Changing Face of American Cities - hosted in Cleveland - highlighted the contribution that immigrants can make to an urban economy. Northeast Ohio is a region founded on immigrants: about 135,000 make their home in the area. But, little research exists on how many immigrant entrepreneurs or laborers exist in the region. ideastream's Tasha Flournoy reports on what area leaders are doing to help immigrants reach their economic potential here.

Safeguard Property Management Profile
Originally aired Thursday, May 10, 2007
Rising foreclosures have given a boost to one little known industry: mortgage field servicers. These are contractors that take care of foreclosed property for lenders. Perhaps then its not so much of a surprise that Cleveland, the city with one of the highest foreclosure rates in the U.S., is also home to the largest privately held mortgage field services company in the country. ideastream's Mhari Saito spent some time with employees at Safeguard Property Management and filed this report.

Gasper Sentenced
Originally aired Thursday, May 10, 2007
A key figure in the scandal at Ohio's Bureau of Workers compensation has been sentenced to Federal Prison. Judge David Dowd in Akron sentenced the Bureau's former Chief Financial Officer Terry Gasper to five years and four months. ideastream's Mark Urycki reports.

The Summer Gas Price Forecast
Originally aired Thursday, May 10, 2007
Gasoline is above $3 a gallon in the Greater Cleveland area and analysts say the price is still going up. That was the subject yesterday on 90.3's The Sound of Ideas. ideastream's Tasha Flournoy has this recap of what's expected this summer.

Medina County Voters Approve Sales Tax for Education
Originally aired Thursday, May 10, 2007
On Tuesday, voters in Medina County did something unprecedented in Ohio history: they approved a half-a-percent sales tax earmarked specifically for education. The money will be divided between all of the County's school districts based on their population. The measure's proponents see it as a way to keep property taxes in check. Dozens of communities throughout Northeast Ohio tried to raise money for schools the more conventional way, asking voters to approve a property tax increase. ideastream's Eric Wellman has more.

Ohio Public Radio: Tackling Bullies Head On
Originally aired Friday, May 11, 2007
Recent high-profile incidents involving bullies at schools have education leaders talking about how to tackle the problem head on. Ohio Public Radio's Karen Kasler reports.

Ohio Lawmakers Concerned Over National Guard
Originally aired Friday, May 11, 2007
Ohio lawmakers are increasingly concerned over the state of the National Guard. They worry that overseas deployments are hurting the Guard's ability to respond to local disasters. Charles Davis reports from Capitol Hill.

Stark Enterprises Plan to Move Headquarters to W. 3rd
Originally aired Friday, May 11, 2007
Local real estate mogul Bob Stark appears to be moving forward with plans to redevelop a segment of downtown Cleveland currently occupied by surface parking lot operators. ideastream's Bill Rice has more.

Former Mayor Campbell Expected to Testify in Flats Case
Originally aired Monday, May 14, 2007
Former Cleveland Mayor Jane Campbell is scheduled to testify today in the trial over whether property in Cleveland's East Flats can be seized under eminent domain. ideastream's Bill Rice reports.

Universal Health Insurance Possible
Originally aired Monday, May 14, 2007
The senior editor of New Republic Magazine made a case for universal health insurance to a Cleveland audience Friday, saying it's possible - if the country wants it enough. ideastream's Health Reporter Lisa Ann Pinkerton has more.

Council to Address Fannie Lewis Law
Originally aired Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Next week, Cleveland City Council will again take up the issue of a city law that requires a certain percentage of contract employees be Cleveland residents. A committee headed up by Councilman Fannie Lewis is hearing testimony about renewing the so-called "Fannie Lewis Law." But some members are using the occasion to vent their anger about the lack of Black workers employed on city projects. ideastream's Mark Urycki reports.

Chrysler Sale Makes Twinsburg Employees Nervous
Originally aired Tuesday, May 15, 2007
President Bush's former Treasury Secretary John Snow says the purchase of Chrysler by the private equity firm he now runs will "create more room for growth and expansion." But, as Ideastream's Mark Urycki reports, workers at the Chrysler Twinsburg stamping plant are nervous.

Campbell Testifies in Eminent Domain Case
Originally aired Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Jane Campbell, former mayor of Cleveland, testified yesterday in a closely watched trial over the future of the East Bank of the Flats. She is one of several high-profile witnesses in the Cleveland/Cuyahoga County Port Authority's fight to seize property under eminent domain for a mixed-use development project. ideastream's Economics Reporter Tasha Flournoy has more on Campbell's testimony.

Oil Spill in Solon
Originally aired Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Officials say an oil spill that resulted from an industrial fire in Solon on Sunday was contained quickly by hazardous materials crews, but not before the oil contaminated a creek that leads to a tributary of the Cuyahoga River. ideastream's Lisa Ann Pinkerton reports.

Divorcing for Medicaid
Originally aired Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Imagine your spouse gets sick and suddenly you've got to figure out how to pay thousands of dollars a month for long term medical care. For lower income couples hoping to get help from government programs like Medicaid, a growing number are finding they have too much money to qualify. Local lawyers say the so-called marriage penalty is getting worse thanks to recent Medicaid changes and growing numbers of aging baby boomers. ideastream's Mhari Saito reports.

Overseeing the Gorillas
Originally aired Wednesday, May 16, 2007
When there's a baby animal at the zoo, you can bet it was not a random act of nature. In captivity, these pregnancies are usually highly planned events. And it can be a bit of a balancing act when it comes to managing the logistics of who mates with whom. That's often determined as much by geography as it is by genetics. Kristen Lukas is Curator of Conservation and Science at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, and she was recently put in charge of the panel that oversees the nation's gorilla population. ideastream's Eric Wellman caught up with her earlier this week outside of the ape house.

New President for Oberlin College
Originally aired Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Oberlin College has a new president. The liberal arts college announced yesterday that Marvin Krislov will take office in July. ideastream education reporter Dan Bobkoff has a look at the new leader.

Ohioans Paying Attention to Presidential Candidates
Originally aired Thursday, May 17, 2007
A new public opinion poll finds that most Ohioans are paying at least some attention to the various presidential candidates lining up next year's primary. The University of Cincinnati released its finding this morning. ideastream's Mark Urycki reports.

Coit Road Farmer’s Market Tour
Originally aired Thursday, May 17, 2007
As the warm weather settles into Northeast Ohio, area farmers will start setting up stands outside of suburban shopping malls on weekends. If you think this meeting of the city and the country is a relatively new phenomenon, guess again. This weekend, our region's oldest farmer's market celebrates its 75th anniversary. ideastream's David C. Barnett has more.

Lady of Slovenia Back on Display
Originally aired Friday, May 18, 2007
An historic wood carving will be in the spotlight this morning at Cleveland City Hall. The "Lady of Slovenia" was presented to city officials nearly 70 years ago but, until today, nobody could agree on a proper place to put it. ideastream's David C. Barnett has more.

Ohio Healthcare Plan Bill Introduced
Originally aired Friday, May 18, 2007
Two bills introduced in the Ohio House and Senate aim to provide universal healthcare for all Ohioans, and it has the support of Ohio's highest ranking democrats. ideastream Health Reporter Lisa Ann Pinkerton has more.

Environmentally Sustainable Business Discussion Held
Originally aired Friday, May 18, 2007
About 150 Clevelanders crowded in to the Museum of Natural History this week to consider new ways to do business in an environmentally sustainable way. The big draw in the three-hour meeting was a chance to hear the ideas of a guy who makes chairs. ideastream's Mark Urycki explains.

One Step Closer to Twins Separation
Originally aired Monday, May 21, 2007
Doctors at Rainbow Babies and Children's hospital say they are a step closer to being ready to separate a pair of twins conjoined at the head. It would be the first such separation to be performed in Cleveland. ideastream's health reporter Lisa Ann Pinkerton has more.

Kucinich to Hold Hearing Over Foreclosures
Originally aired Monday, May 21, 2007
Congressman Dennis Kucinich will be taking the Federal Reserve of Cleveland to task today for the soaring number of foreclosures in the city. ideastream's Bill Rice reports.

The Class of 2007
Originally aired Monday, May 21, 2007
Colleges and universities send this year's crop of seniors out into the so-called real world this month. And many of the region's cutting edge companies hope to lure some of them into their workforces. Many would like to see Greater Cleveland rank with the likes of Boston or San Francisco for high tech innovation and growth, but there are obstacles - including, some contend, a shortage of talent. In a moment, ideastream's economics reporter Tasha Flournoy takes a look at how area companies struggle to recruit young qualified workers. But first, ideastream's education reporter Dan Bobkoff introduces us to a couple of the region's best and brightest graduates.

Foreclosure Pandemic
Originally aired Tuesday, May 22, 2007
With thousands of home foreclosures predicted for this year in Cuyahoga County, Cleveland Congressman Dennis Kucinich held a federal hearing in Cleveland yesterday. It focused on the rash of high risk loans that have sent many hopeful homeowners into a downward spiral of debt. ideastream's David C. Barnett has more.

Clinic: Avandia May Increase Cardiovascular Problems
Originally aired Tuesday, May 22, 2007
A new study from the Cleveland Clinic published in this month's New England Journal of Medicine reveals the popular Type 2 diabetes drug, Avandia, may increase heart attack and other cardiovascular problems in patients. ideastream Health Reporter Lisa Ann Pinkerton has more.

The Modest Wine of Ohio
Originally aired Wednesday, May 23, 2007
When we think about the world's greatest wine growing regions, chances are Ohio doesn't come quickly to mind. The wine industry in the Buckeye State is modest to say the least when compared to the likes of Napa and Bordeaux. But Ohio shouldn't be counted out when it comes to turning out a fine vintage, as ideastream's Eric Wellman found out during a recent trip to one of the state's more notable wineries.

Statehouse News Bureau: Betting on Old Races to be Allowed
Originally aired Thursday, May 24, 2007
People who go to Ohio race tracks will soon be allowed to place bets on video-taped races from decades ago, if House lawmakers approve pending legislation. On a vote of 25 to 8, the Senate approved its version of the measure yesterday. Statehouse correspondent Bill Cohen reports.

Ohio Public Radio: Lake Erie Sewage
Originally aired Thursday, May 24, 2007
An environmental group says northern Ohio cities are unleashing a health menace on the public, by pouring a very common but dangerous substance into Lake Erie. Ohio Public Radio's Karen Kasler prepared this report.

Cuyahoga Falls Water Service Announced
Originally aired Thursday, May 24, 2007
Akron Mayor Don Plusquellic announced an agreement yesterday that will provide water service to parts of Cuyahoga Falls that currently rely mostly on wells. ideastream's Dan Bobkoff has more.

Key Player to Take Stand in Flats Trial Today
Originally aired Thursday, May 24, 2007
A key player in the Flats eminent domain trial is scheduled to take the stand today. ideastream's economics reporter Tasha Flournoy reports.

School Choice Rallies Held
Originally aired Friday, May 25, 2007
Whichever side of the school choice debate you fall on, there was a rally for your side in Cleveland yesterday. Proponents of charter schools and vouchers commended the Ohio House for reinstating funding for the programs. Meanwhile, Cleveland schools and union officials had their own event praising the governor for his efforts to end most voucher programs. ideastream education reporter Dan Bobkoff reports.

Target Urged to Stop Selling Products Containing PVC Plastic
Originally aired Friday, May 25, 2007
Yesterday, America's sixth largest retailer Target was handed a petition containing 10,000 signatures urging the company to stop selling products that use PVC plastic. Polyvinyl Chloride and the chemicals used to make it are thought by some to be linked to birth defects and cancers. The petition was delivered to the annual shareholders meeting held at the company's new store on Cleveland's west side. ideastream Health Reporter Lisa Ann Pinkerton has more.

Statehouse News Bureau: Demanding Answers on Gas Pricing
Originally aired Friday, May 25, 2007
Gas prices in Ohio are 80 cents a gallon higher than a couple months ago and state legislators are demanding answers and action. An oil company lobbyist, though, calls the lawmakers latest proposal worthless and counter productive. From our bureau in Columbus, Bill Cohen reports.

Ohio Tree Fruit Growers Suffering
Originally aired Monday, May 28, 2007
More than a month after an Easter snow storm buried Northeast Ohio under more than a foot of snow, many farmers are struggling to recover their crops. Perhaps no industry was harder hit than the state's tree fruit growers, some of whom are writing this year off as a total loss. Diane Miller is state extension specialist for tree fruits at Ohio State University. She says the unseasonably warm weather just before the snow storm made the situation much worse.

Life Without Health Insurance: Unavailable Treatment
Originally aired Wednesday, May 30, 2007
1.2 million Ohioans live without health insurance. Many of those people go without the treatment they need often until conditions become unbearable. Starting today, 90.3 will provide occasional reports on life without health insurance. We start with an unusual story that illustrates what can happen when treatment is either unavailable or unaffordable - a situation that's growing worse in Ohio. ideastream's Health Reporter Lisa Ann Pinkerton reports.

Pneumonia Prevention Could Save Millions of Dollars
Originally aired Wednesday, May 30, 2007
A new study out of Metro Health Medical Center finds the nation's hospitals could save millions of dollars in extra costs by more effectively preventing pneumonia in stroke patients. ideastream's Health Reporter Lisa Ann Pinkerton has more.

Ohio School Funding Amendment Race Against the Clock
Originally aired Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Supporters of a constitutional amendment that would change the way Ohio schools are funded are racing against the clock. They have until early August to gather at least 400,000 signatures to get the measure on the ballot. The proposal is in many ways modeled after Maryland's school funding formula which is largely seen as a success by education advocates across the country. Plain Dealer reporter Scott Stephens recently traveled to Maryland to see first hand what's going on there. ideastream's Eric Wellman spoke with Stephens.

Strickland: Raising Achievement a Priority
Originally aired Thursday, May 31, 2007
Governor Ted Strickland billed yesterday's conference as the first of its kind in Ohio, and says raising the achievement of African American males is a high priority for his administration. He spoke with ideastream's Bill Rice as the gathering was breaking for lunch.

Bishop Lennon Identifies Church Clusters
Originally aired Thursday, May 31, 2007
The Cleveland Catholic Church has taken the next step in a program to slim down its eight county parish system. Bishop Richard Lennon has sent a letter to each of the region's 231 parishes. In it, he identifies 69 church clusters that will decide the future size of the Diocese. ideastream's David C. Barnett has more.

Candlelight Vigil Held for Slain Officer
Originally aired Thursday, May 31, 2007
Several hundred Northeast Ohioans gathered in Cleveland Heights last night to light candles in memory of patrolman Jason West. He was killed in the line of duty this past Friday. ideastream's David C. Barnett has more.

Ohio Public Radio: Addressing the Achievement Gap
Originally aired Thursday, May 31, 2007
It's one of the most intractable problems in education today - the low high school graduation rates for African American males. Yesterday, nearly 2,000 educators, community leaders and public officials gathered in Columbus to discuss the issue at a day long conference. They agree there's a problem, but they disagree on how to fix it. Ohio Public Radio's Karen Kasler reports.

Statehouse News Bureau: Special Lane for Big Rigs Coming?
Originally aired Thursday, May 31, 2007
If transportation officials in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Missouri get their wish, a major trucking route will have a special lane, just for big rigs. Statehouse correspondent Bill Cohen has more on the story.