Regional News Stories Archive: August 2007

Electric Co-ops May Change
Originally aired Wednesday, August 1, 2007
Nearly 400,000 Ohio households get their power from non-profit rural electric cooperatives. These co-ops enjoy big federal subsidies and burn lots of dirty coal. Now Congress may change that. Eric Niler reports from Capitol Hill.

Companies and Gender Discrimination
Originally aired Wednesday, August 1, 2007
Ohio companies that don't offer adequate time off to pregnant workers and new mothers can be charged with gender discrimination. And the Ohio Civil Rights Commission is proposing tougher rules. Women's rights activists are applauding, but a top business group is raising questions. Statehouse correspondent Bill Cohen reports.

Memories of State Fairs
Originally aired Wednesday, August 1, 2007
The 156th Ohio State Fair opens today, and for many people around Ohio, it brings back memories of big-time concerts, rickety rides, hot barns and deliciously bad food. But the State Fair has also been the stage for news makers and the backdrop for important events over the last few decades. Ohio Public Radio's Karen Kasler went into the archives to find prominent moments of fairs gone by and she brings us this report.

Lorain Leaders Step Down
Originally aired Thursday, August 2, 2007
The city of Lorain loses two top leaders this week. Lorain City Schools Superintendent Dee Morgan stepped down on Tuesday and Mayor Craig Foltin's last day in office is today. ideastream's Tasha Flournoy has more.

Could It Happen In Cleveland?
Originally aired Thursday, August 2, 2007
It's 6:35 in Minneapolis, and as the sun comes up recovery crews are getting back to work following yesterday's bridge collapse over the Mississippi River. We know at least seven people died when a crowded bridge gave way during rush hour traffic. It raises the question - can the same thing happen in Cleveland? Art Huckelbridge is a civil engineering professor at Case Western Reserve University, and he spoke with ideastream's Eric Wellman.

Publicly Funded State Universities Uniting
Originally aired Friday, August 3, 2007
The state's publicly funded colleges and universities are being united into one group, with the hope that each school will focus not just on its own needs, but on the needs of all Ohio students. Ohio Public Radio's Karen Kasler reports.

Behind the Scenes at The Lion King
Originally aired Friday, August 3, 2007
The Broadway production of the Lion King opens at the State Theatre in Cleveland this week. From a technical standpoint, it's one of the most complex plays to put on. There's a crew of nearly 100 that works behind the scenes to make the show run smoothly. ideastream's Eric Wellman gives us this behind-the-scenes tour.

Smoke Free Campaign Working
Originally aired Friday, August 3, 2007
The Smoke Free Greater Cleveland Campaign says 23 percent of the people who sought it's help to quit smoking are still smoke free. ideastream Health Reporter, Lisa Ann Pinkerton has more.

Some Ohio Bridges Found Structurally Deficient
Originally aired Friday, August 3, 2007
Inspectors of the I-35 bridge that collapsed in Minneapolis warned of structural problems, including corrosion as far back as 1990 and in its most recent inspection the bridge was found to be "structurally deficient" by the U.S. Department of Transportation. The term is applied to hundreds of Ohio bridges as well. It sounds ominous but actually it's a fairly ambiguous description in the way officials apply it to bridges, as ideastream's Lisa Ann Pinkerton found out. Here's her report.

Ethics Rules Tightened in Congress
Originally aired Monday, August 6, 2007
In Washington, Congress is tightening up ethics rules. The house and Senate have overwhelmingly adopted reform bills. All Ohio lawmakers voted for the package except Democratic Cleveland Congresswoman Betty Sutton who was sick. But there are concerns whether the new provisions could have unintended consequences. Chad Pergram reports from Capitol Hill.

Staph Infections Up Over Last 10 Years
Originally aired Monday, August 6, 2007
A patient shows up at the doctor complaining about swelling and tenderness on a portion of his skin. He claims it was a spider bite, although he never saw the insect. This is how staph infections often present. And doctors in Northeast Ohio - across the country in fact - have been seeing a larger number over the last ten years. There's a recent study that verifies this trend. Here to tell us more about it is Dr. Charles Emerman, associate chief of staff at Metrohealth Medical Center.

Euclid in Court Over Election System
Originally aired Monday, August 6, 2007
The City of Euclid and the U.S. Justice Department face off in federal court today over whether the city's elections system violates the Voting Rights act. A three-year investigation by the federal government concluded the city's methods for electing council members dilutes minority voting strength. And Euclid's mayor and city council are divided on whether to settle the case, or fight it out in the courtroom. ideastream's Tasha Flournoy has more.

Small Schools - Part 1
Originally aired Monday, August 6, 2007
In recent years, small schools have been marketed as the next big idea in education. They're supposed to create closer relationships between teachers and students, and ultimately improve test scores and behavior. Three years ago in Cleveland, five big high schools decided to get small. John F. Kennedy, Glenville, James Ford Rhodes, East High, and East Tech, kept their buildings, but divided them into a multitude of smaller schools. As ideastream education reporter Dan Bobkoff explains, it hasn't worked out as well as many had hoped.

Opening Arguments Heard in Euclid Voting System Case
Originally aired Tuesday, August 7, 2007
Opening arguments were heard yesterday from the Department of Justice and the City of Euclid in a case examining Euclid's voting system. The federal government claims it dilutes the power of African-American voters. ideastream intern Clare Malone reports.

Brown Wants More Money in Food Bank
Originally aired Tuesday, August 7, 2007
U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown is seizing on the farm bill just passed by the house to push for more food assistance to the needy. ideastream's Tasha Flournoy has more.

Gruttadauria Returns to Federal Custody
Originally aired Tuesday, August 7, 2007
Convicted stock broker Frank Gruttadauria has returned to federal custody, after spending a month of relative freedom at a Cleveland halfway house. Local law officials were caught by surprise when they recently learned that Gruttadauria was back on the streets and even paying overnight visits to his ex-wife. ideastream's David C. Barnett reports.

Small Schools - Part 2
Originally aired Tuesday, August 7, 2007
James Ford Rhodes, Glenville, and JFK high schools will once again be large, comprehensive high schools this fall. This comes after teachers complained that dividing up into small schools in the same buildings has been more trouble than its worth. However, one inner-ring suburb is having better luck with its conversion to small schools. ideastream education reporter Dan Bobkoff takes a look.

More Change Wanted for Utility Regulation
Originally aired Wednesday, August 8, 2007
It's been eight years since Ohio legislators voted to totally change the way consumers get charged for electricity. Lawmakers promised it could mean substantially lower month bills, but for most customers, the prediction hasn't come true. And now, some key movers and shakers are calling for yet another change in the system of utility regulation. Statehouse correspondent Bill Cohen reports.

Coleman Answers to Falsified Time Sheet Charges
Originally aired Wednesday, August 8, 2007
The wife of Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman is answering to charges that she falsified time sheets while working for a state agency. Ohio Public Radio's Jo Ingles reports.

NASA Glenn Experiments Included on Endeavour
Originally aired Wednesday, August 8, 2007
At 6:36 tonight, Space Shuttle Endeavour is scheduled to blast off from Cape Canaveral en route to the International Space Station. It will be carrying two experiments designed here in Northeast Ohio at NASA Glenn Research Center. On the line with us is Bill Sheredy.

Cholestrol Discovery at Clinic
Originally aired Wednesday, August 8, 2007
A team of cardiologists at the Cleveland Clinic say they've discovered why so-called "Good Cholesterol" doesn't always remove the "bad" cholesterol from cells in the artery walls leading to the heart. ideastream Health Reporter, Lisa Ann Pinkerton has more.

Voinovich Sees Nuclear Plants as Productive
Originally aired Wednesday, August 8, 2007
Republican U.S. Senator George Voinovich came to the Cleveland area yesterday to continue his support for building more nuclear power plants. He sees the plants as an environmentally-friendly way to boost electricity production. He also wants Ohio to become a manufacturing leader in the production of nuclear plant parts. ideastream's Dan Bobkoff reports on the senator's visit to one local company.

Ohio AG Accuses Companies of Cheating
Originally aired Thursday, August 9, 2007
Ohio's attorney general is accusing six companies of cheating customers by falsely promising to save their homes from foreclosure. Statehouse correspondent Bill Cohen reports.

Expanding the S-Chip Program
Originally aired Thursday, August 9, 2007
Governor Ted Strickland and Senator Sherrod Brown are hoping to expand the state's health insurance program for children. Currently, there are some kids who don't qualify because their parents make too much money. But expanding the S-Chip program requires federal money that appears at risk not to come through. Statehouse correspondent Jo Ingles reports.

Ohio Beaches Pose Health Risk
Originally aired Thursday, August 9, 2007
A new report by the National Resources Defense Council says Great Lakes Beaches have a high incidence of violating federal beach water standards. In fact, Ohio beaches were highlighted as posing the greatest health risk in the nation. ideastream's Eric Wellman spoke with Ann Alexander, an attorney with the National Resources Defense Council who tells us there is also some good news to report.

Hire an Ex-Con… Get a Tax Break
Originally aired Friday, August 10, 2007
Hire an ex-con... and get a tax break. That's the thrust of a proposal that's being re-introduced in the Ohio Legislature. Details now from statehouse correspondent Bill Cohen.

ODOT Re-examining Bridges
Originally aired Friday, August 10, 2007
As new developments in the Minneapolis Bridge collapse emerge, the Ohio Department of Transportation says it's re-examining bridges under its jurisdiction. ideastream's Lisa Ann Pinkerton reports.

Free Screening for Lead Contaminated Objects
Originally aired Friday, August 10, 2007
In the wake of the Fisher Price recall of nearly a million toys containing lead paint, health officials and many parents wonder about other objects in area homes. Tomorrow, the Ohio Network of the Chemically Injured is inviting people to being objects they want tested for lead and other heavy metals to the Berea Recreation Center. ideastream Health Reporter, Lisa Ann Pinkerton has more.

Moving “The Politician”
Originally aired Friday, August 10, 2007
If you've made the commute from University Circle to Public Square on Chester Avenue, you've probably seen it - a colorful, mechanical contraption that rises forty feet above the street. Some say it looks like a robotic chicken. The artist who built it ten years ago says it's a piece of political satire. Whatever you call it, it's about to move to a new location. ideastream's David C. Barnett has more. Photo: Billie Lawless's "Politician" is due to move from its current Chester Avenue location.

New Wave of Immigration Bypassing NE Ohio
Originally aired Monday, August 13, 2007
The familiar story of how Eastern European immigrants helped build Northeast Ohio's economy a hundred years ago is just a memory now. These days, a new wave of immigrants and their economic potential is bypassing our region in favor of other places in the country. ideastream's David C. Barnett reports on a new local effort to attract the best and the brightest from overseas.

Hobo Living Not Like It Used To Be
Originally aired Monday, August 13, 2007
Thousands of modern-day hobos descended on Britt, Iowa this past weekend for the 107th annual Hobo Convention. Some of those hobos were here in Ohio a few weeks back for their own hobo gathering at Deep Lock Quarry in Peninsula. As ideastream's Dan Bobkoff learned, being a hobo is not what it used to be.

Task Force Examining Foreclosure Crisis
Originally aired Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Members of a special Ohio task force are recommending ways to soften the state's foreclosure crisis. Statehouse correspondent Bill Cohen reports.

Some Ohio National Guard Welcomed Home
Originally aired Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Some 40 Ohio National Guard troops are waking up in their own beds this morning after spending the past year and a half in Iraq. They were welcomed home yesterday with cheers from loved ones and well wishers in the auditorium of a southern Summit County High School. ideastream's Kymberli Hagelberg has more.

Lorain City Schools Remain in Financial Crisis
Originally aired Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Lorain City Schools remain in what the district calls a "severe financial crisis". Earlier this summer, it faced a budget shortfall of over $10 million and quickly enacted massive job cuts. With school starting up in just two weeks, even some good news over the weekend didn't prevent about 300 from turning out at last night's school board meeting. ideastream education reporter Dan Bobkoff was there.

Dogaru Twins Surgery Called Off
Originally aired Tuesday, August 14, 2007
A Cleveland hospital has permanently called off surgery to separate 3-year-old twins joined at the head. Officials with Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital say the medical risks to Romanian-born Tatiana and Anastasia Dogaru are too great.

Lorain School Board Meeting
Originally aired Tuesday, August 14, 2007
The crisis in Lorain's schools continues, even as some teachers laid-off a few weeks ago will be back on the job. ideastream education reporter Dan Bobkoff was at last night's school board meeting.

Ohio Public Schools Report Cards
Originally aired Wednesday, August 15, 2007
There's good news and bad news in the latest round of report cards for Ohio Public Schools. The Cleveland Metropolitan School District touted its rise into continuous improvement recently. And, few Northeast Ohio districts received the undesirable "academic watch" designation. Statehouse correspondent Bill Cohen reports on how the state fared as a whole. For information on your district, click here.

No Backlash for Local Asian-Owned Businesses
Originally aired Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Asian-owned businesses in Cleveland say, despite a second major recall of lead-tainted toys made in China, they haven't seen a local backlash - yet. But restaurant, shop and grocery store owners say they hope the Chinese government can fix the problems with exports soon. From member station WKSU, Karen Schaefer reports.

Second Chance for Released Prisoners
Originally aired Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Cleveland area State Senator Shirley Smith is pushing a bill that she says would provide a second chance for the more than 20,000 inmates released from Ohio prisons and jails every year. It's in the early stages of the legislative process, and as ideastream's Dan Moulthrop reports, it is already meeting some stiff opposition.

The Most Important Lesson
Originally aired Wednesday, August 15, 2007
The folks that bring oral history to Morning Edition every Friday brought their Airstream trailer to Cleveland earlier this month. It's part of their latest cross-country journey capturing conversations of Americans. Some of the recordings do end up on NPR and now a few more will be heard on 90.3. Starting today we're launching our own regional version of StoryCorps. Kicking off this occasional segment is a conversation between a mother and daughter from Amherst, Ohio. Rita George says she was 12 when her mother taught her the most important lesson she's ever learned.

Charter Schools Under Fire Again
Originally aired Thursday, August 16, 2007
In the nine years Ohio has had publicly funded charter schools, opponents have attacked them time and again over accountability and academic standards. That continues with the latest school report card issued this week from the state department of education. From member station WKSU, Daniel Hockensmith reports.

Chicago Medical Mart Toured
Originally aired Thursday, August 16, 2007
The group proposing to develop a giant medical showroom in Cleveland is waging a campaign hoping to increase public support and understanding of the project. Local stakeholders got a preview of what the proposed medical mart could look like by touring Chicago's Merchandise Mart - the facility that the medical mart is to be modeled after. ideastream's Tasha Flournoy just returned from the Windy City and has the details.

Solving Crime in Cleveland
Originally aired Thursday, August 16, 2007
The death of a Brecksville woman who came to Cleveland last week to see the Lion King has heightened public discussion about downtown safety. Yesterday, Mayor Frank Jackson laid out a blueprint he said would solve some of the city's crime problems, but the plan has supporters and critics. ideastream's Kymberli Hagelberg has been following the story. She joins us now on the phone.

New DUI Checkpoint Over Next Three Weeks
Originally aired Friday, August 17, 2007
Over the next three weekends, law enforcement agencies in Cuyahoga County will establish six DUI Checkpoints at places were people have died in the past due to drunk driving. The stepped up patrols are a part of a larger annual crackdown on drunk driving nationwide. ideastream's Lisa Ann Pinkerton reports.

Mayors Gather to Support Medical Mart
Originally aired Friday, August 17, 2007
Nearly a dozen Cuyahoga Mayors gathered this morning to announce their support of a proposed medical mart and convention center. They are part of a 40-member group of mayors in the county who've endorsed the proposal. ideastream's economics reporter Tasha Flournoy has more.

Diebold Reorganizing
Originally aired Friday, August 17, 2007
The Ohio company that is a leading maker of electronic voting machines has failed in its attempt to sell the troubled division and announced today it is reorganizing that part of its business. ideastream's Kymberli Hagelberg has more.

Akron Teachers Have New Contract
Originally aired Friday, August 17, 2007
Teachers in Akron Public Schools have a new contract. The teachers will see a raise. They also promise to work with administrators to reduce future health insurance costs. ideastream Education reporter Dan Bobkoff has the details.

Castle Doctrine Waiting for Lawmakers
Originally aired Monday, August 20, 2007
One of the bills awaiting lawmakers when they return from summer break is the so-called "castle doctrine". It makes it easier for a defendant charged with shooting someone in his home to argue self-defense. But opponents fear it could allow killers to get off easy. Statehouse correspondent Karen Kasler reports.

Revised Recommendations for Heart Disease Treatment
Originally aired Monday, August 20, 2007
If you suffer from some form of cardiovascular disease just know you're not alone. The American Heart Association estimate somewhere around 80 million Americans are in some way affected. Now for the first time in five years, the American College of Cardiology has revised its recommendations for how patients with heart disease should be treated. On Mondays we talk about health, and joining us this week, Dr. Charles Emerman - he's associate chief of staff at MetroHealth Medical Center.

Private Church Records to be Disclosed
Originally aired Monday, August 20, 2007
Confidential financial records of the Cleveland Catholic Diocese will be made public during a high profile federal trial that is scheduled to start this afternoon. ideastream's David C. Barnett sets the scene.

Ohio AG to Continue Push for Transparent Government
Originally aired Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Eight months into his tenure as Ohio's Attorney General, the man who promised to be the people's lawyer, says his position has turned out to be much more uncomfortable than he imagined it would be. Nevertheless, Marc Dann says despite some difficulty he will continue to aggressively pursue corporations preying on Ohioans and he'll continue to push for greater transparency in government. Dann made his comments yesterday morning on WCPN's The Sound of Ideas. ideastream's Dan Moulthrop has more.

Port Authority As Economic Development Engine
Originally aired Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Cleveland's Port Authority has unveiled a plan to establish the agency as an engine for economic development. The port's first ever strategic plan comes just over six months after new port director Adam Wasserman took the helm. ideastream's economics reporter Tasha Flournoy has more.

New Cardiovascular Center at Cleveland Clinic
Originally aired Tuesday, August 21, 2007
The movement to attract biomedical companies from around the nation and the world to Cleveland received a large boost this week. ideastream's Rick Jackson has more.

Higher Painkiller Use Shows Shift in Thinking
Originally aired Tuesday, August 21, 2007
The use of three major painkillers has more than quadrupled in Ohio over the past decade. As ideastream Health Reporter Lisa Ann Pinkerton reports, the increase reflects a change in how the medical community views pain.

Sexual Trafficking in Ohio
Originally aired Wednesday, August 22, 2007
When we think about sexual trafficking, it's largely seen as an international problem. Countries like Cambodia and Thailand often top the headlines, but as we're about to see, this issue is also a local one. Here in Ohio, Cleveland, Columbus and Toledo have been recognized as trafficking zones by various watchdog groups. ideastream's Eric Wellman spoke to Lisa Thompson, the liaison for the abolition of sexual trafficking with the Salvation Army.

Euclid Election System Violates U.S. Voting Rights Act
Originally aired Wednesday, August 22, 2007
The city of Euclid's system of electing city council members violates the U.S. Voting Rights Act. That's the preliminary decision made by a federal court judge yesterday. Judge Kathleen O'Malley sided with the U.S. Justice Department argument that the city's 9-member council system - four ward members and a council president, and four more at large seats - hinders the black vote and is discriminatory. The government had proposed fewer at-large seats, saying that would boost the chances of black candidates seeking office. ideastream's Tasha Flournoy has more on the case.

Not Yet “Game Over”
Originally aired Thursday, August 23, 2007
Ohio's Governor and Attorney General are taking action they believe will ban some types of games that they consider illegal. But as Ohio Public Raio's Jo Ingles reports, it's not likely that the people who provide those machines will say "game over."

Akron Republicans Face Off
Originally aired Thursday, August 23, 2007
In Akron this week it's been a bit of a Civil War between two prominent republicans: longtime Summit County party chairman Alex Arshinkoff and state senator Kevin Coughlin of Cuyahoga Falls. Coughlin, a force in his own right as a senator, wants Arshinkoff out. ideastream's Kymberli Hagelberg has the story.

Medical Malpractice Bill Debated
Originally aired Thursday, August 23, 2007
A bill making its way through the Ohio Legislature aims to bring down the cost of medical malpractice insurance by diverting cases away from the courts. Yesterday a doctor and a lawyer debated the bill before an audience in downtown Cleveland. ideastream Health Reporter, Lisa Ann Pinkerton has more.

Mansfield Cleans Up After Flood
Originally aired Friday, August 24, 2007
Mansfield is one of many communities cleaning up after record breaking floods. The downtown area received the most damage. Local businesses including the city's main post office continue the recovery this morning. From member station WOSU, Mandie Trimble reports.

Firm Hired for Wind Turbine Feasability Study
Originally aired Friday, August 24, 2007
The Cuyahoga County Commissioners have selected a Wind Energy firm to figure out if wind turbines can be built in the waters just off of Lake Erie. Additionally, a new institute at Case Western Reserve University will make the wind demonstration project it's top priority. ideastream's Lisa Ann Pinkerton reports.

Determining a Safe Return After Flooding
Originally aired Friday, August 24, 2007
As flood waters begin to recede, authorities will try to determine when its safe to let homeowners back into the worst affected areas to assess the damage. ideastream's Kymberli Hagelberg has more.

Encouraging Competition in Payday Lending
Originally aired Friday, August 24, 2007
With all the turmoil in the mortgage markets these days, its hard to imagine that there are sub-prime products out there that are actually doing pretty well. Take payday lending for instance. There are now over 22,000 stores across the country offering short term, small loans of under a thousand dollars for triple-digit interest rates. The federal agency that insures banks, the FDIC, wants payday lenders to lower those rates so they're trying to encourage banks to deliver some competition. ideastream's Mhari Saito reports.

StoryCorps Cleveland: The Jeffries
Originally aired Monday, August 27, 2007
The folks who produced the oral history series StoryCorps spent much of August working in downtown Cleveland. Some of the stories they gathered will eventually be heard on NPR - but others will be heard from time to time here on 90.3. This morning's story takes us back to Cleveland of the 1960s, a time when many African Americans were still making the move from the deep south to the Industrial north. Here's that recollection from sisters Doris and Elaine Jeffries. Their family moved to Cleveland from Alabama, in 1963.

Football Season Reawakens Concussion Debate
Originally aired Monday, August 27, 2007
It's hard to believe it's almost football season again, but the beginning of football season reawakens a debate about concussions. Doctors have found a link between multiple concussions and mental health problems down the road.

Case Continues Against Church Accountant
Originally aired Monday, August 27, 2007
The prosecution continues its case today against a former church accountant accused of bilking the Cleveland Catholic Diocese for nearly $800,000. ideastream's David C. Barnett recaps the trial, so far.

Cuyahoga County Sales Tax To Go Forward
Originally aired Monday, August 27, 2007
Now that a quarter-percent sales tax hike to pay for a new convention center will go forward, one of the chief opponents of the tax says he hopes the project will be open to public scrutiny and discussion. ideastream's Bill Rice reports.

Rare Stem Cell Conference Begins Today
Originally aired Monday, August 27, 2007
A conference on regenerative medicine kicks off in Cleveland this morning bringing scientists together to talk about a very rare and very special type of cell. ideastream's Gretchen Cuda reports.

Akron Mayoral Debate
Originally aired Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Akron Mayor Don Plusquellic faced his first Democratic opposition in two decades when he debated former Akron City Councilman Joe Finley at the Akron Press Club yesterday. ideastream's Kymberli Hagelberg reports.

Helping African Refugees Settle in Ohio
Originally aired Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Tens of thousands of people have immigrated from Africa to Ohio in the past decade, and some state legislators say it's time the government set up a special commission to help the refugees settle into their new life. Statehouse correspondent Bill Cohen files this report.

Cleveland Now Nation’s 4th Poorest City
Originally aired Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Cleveland is no longer the nation's most impoverished big city. But, the latest survey from the U.S. Census Bureau reports that the city still ranks in the top ten. ideastream's David C. Barnett reports.

Mayor Jackson Appears on “The Sound of Ideas”
Originally aired Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Yesterday, Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson spent an hour with WCPN listeners on our daily program "The Sound of Ideas," talking about everything from the census bureau's latest poverty rankings to new development to the waterfront. Sound of Ideas host Dan Moulthrop has this recap.

Governor Warns of Higher Electric Bills
Originally aired Thursday, August 30, 2007
Governor Ted Strickland is warning that electricity bills across Ohio will skyrocket in 2009, unless Ohio moves back toward government regulation of electricity rates. He's unveiled his own proposal for change, and it includes a move to encourage development of more alternative energy sources. Statehouse correspondent Bill Cohen reports.

Public Offers Thoughts on Port’s Plans
Originally aired Thursday, August 30, 2007
Area residents offered their thoughts yesterday on the Cleveland Port Authority's plan to advance Northeast Ohio's economy. ideastream's economics reporter Tasha Flournoy explains how the public views the port's move in a new direction.

Case Welcomes New President
Originally aired Thursday, August 30, 2007
As Case Western Reserve University welcomes back students, it also welcomed its new President yesterday. ideastream education reporter Dan Bobkoff was there.

Local Astronaut Spends Six Months in Space
Originally aired Thursday, August 30, 2007
Euclid born Astronaut Sunita Williams spent six years training for a mission that lasted six months. From late last year through June, she lived 240 miles above the earth on the International space station. But she says despite all her training, there was nothing that fully prepared her for what she encountered after liftoff. Listen to Sunita Williams' experience eating in space.

Aurora to Receive Cleveland Water
Originally aired Friday, August 31, 2007
Another Northeast Ohio community has promised not to poach businesses from Cleveland in return for city water service. ideastream's Kymberli Hagelberg has more.

Medical Mart Site Expected By End of Year
Originally aired Friday, August 31, 2007
Leaders of the Greater Cleveland Partnership say they expect to recommend a site for a new convention center and medical mart by the end of the year. ideastream's economics reporter Tasha Flournoy has more.

Miami University to Continue Benefits
Originally aired Friday, August 31, 2007
Miami University in Ohio can continue to offer benefits to same-sex domestic partners now that an Ohio appeals court has upheld a lower court's ruling. ideastream education reporter Dan Bobkoff explains.