Regional News Stories Archive: November 2007

Alternatives to Traditional Health Care
Originally aired Thursday, November 1, 2007
Every employer is struggling with how to provide health insurance as costs continue to rise faster than inflation and for some the cost has become prohibitive. Today we begin a three-part series on the problem and how some employers are addressing it. Government employees are often assumed to be among the safest as far as health coverage is concerned but things are starting to change there as elsewhere. As Christina Morgan of member station WOSU reports, traditional health insurance is giving way to alternatives.

Cuyahoga Election Board Testing Procedures for Tuesday Elections
Originally aired Thursday, November 1, 2007
The Cuyahoga County Elections board has been testing new procedures they hope will make Tuesday's general election run smoothly. ideastream Political Reporter Kymberli Hagelberg has details.

Insurance Crisis Felt in Small Non-Profits
Originally aired Friday, November 2, 2007
Nowhere is the insurance crisis more keenly felt than among small non-profit organizations. While commercial businesses may pass along increased costs to their customers, non-profits cannot. One of the oldest non-profits in Columbus, the Godman Guild, is facing a sharp and unexpected increase this year. Sam Hendren of Ohio Public Radio's WOSU has the story.

Toledo Union Upset by Chrysler Cuts
Originally aired Friday, November 2, 2007
The news that Chrysler will slash thousands of jobs at production plants across North America has left union officials at a Toledo plant aghast. ideastream reporter Tasha Flournoy has more.

Larger Forces Considered in Stabbing Death
Originally aired Friday, November 2, 2007
Da'Mesha Sharp's death has community members contemplating not just the motivations behind this particular killing, but also the larger forces that continue to feed the cycle of urban violence. ideasteam's Dan Bobkoff recently paid a visit to her east side neighborhood.

Notable Issues on Tomorrow’s Ballot
Originally aired Monday, November 5, 2007
There are no major Cleveland races in tomorrow's election, but there are many contests and issues on ballots in suburban cities and towns throughout Northeast Ohio. ideastream's Kymberli Hagelberg spoke Eric Wellman about some notable ones.

Familiar Match-Up for Euclid Mayor Race
Originally aired Monday, November 5, 2007
For residents of Euclid, the race for mayor to be decided tomorrow is a familiar match-up. In 2003, Bill Cervenik, a former city councilman, ran against sitting Council President Ed Gudeanas. This time around, Cervenik -- now the incumbent mayor -- and Gudenas are facing off again, and what was once a more friendly rivalry is decidedly less so. ideastream's Tash Flournoy reports.

The Battle for Brenda Lee Drive
Originally aired Monday, November 5, 2007
Across Ohio tomorrow, voters will decide on hundreds of ballot issues that could change zoning, set salaries for elected officials and even determine whether a local police department should be saved or scrapped. And in an east side Cleveland suburb, an entire town will decide whether one man's grand romantic gesture will survive the gentrification of his old neighborhood. ideastream political reporter Kymberli Hagelberg has more on the battle for Brenda Lee Drive.

Good and Bad News for Law School Grads
Originally aired Monday, November 5, 2007
There's good news and bad news for students graduating from law school. ideastream's Eric Wellman has more.

Small For-Profits Struggle with Health Insurance
Originally aired Tuesday, November 6, 2007
Last week we highlighted some of the steps that governments and non-profit corporations are taking to continue providing health insurance to their employees. Today, a look at small, for-profit companies as they struggle with escalating health costs. Mandy Trimble of member station WOSU in Columbus has the story.

Akron School Superintendent Retiring
Originally aired Tuesday, November 6, 2007
This will be the last year for Akron's school superintendent. Dr. Sylvester Small announced his retirement yesterday, capping a 38-year career with the district. ideastream's Dan Bobkoff has the story.

Stokes Mayoral Election Makes History 40 Years Ago
Originally aired Tuesday, November 6, 2007
The eyes of the world were on Cleveland this week, 40 years ago, when Carl Stokes became the first African American mayor of a major U.S. city. In the first of a two-part report, ideastream's David C. Barnett examines the background of an election that changed American politics.

Avoiding Confusion at the Polls
Originally aired Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Ohioans may vote next March on a plan to help avoid the kind of confusion that hit some voters yesterday when they cast their ballots. The problem is, sometimes an issue appears on the ballot, but none of the votes on it are counted -- and for good reason. Statehouse correspondent Bill Cohen explains.

Stokes as Mayor
Originally aired Wednesday, November 7, 2007
A well-plotted campaign in Cleveland 40 years ago today helped make Carl Stokes the first African American mayor of a major U.S. city. But running for mayor and actually sitting behind that desk at City Hall turned out to be two different things. ideastream's David C. Barnett concludes his two-part report on the election that changed American politics.

Euclid’s Cervenik Re-elected
Originally aired Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Euclid voters have unofficially spoken: They want four more years of service from incumbent Mayor Bill Cervenik. ideastream's Tasha Flournoy has more on the Euclid mayor's race.

Less Than Perfect Election in Cuyahoga County
Originally aired Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Cuyahoga County Elections officials say computer problems made for a less-than-perfect election yesterday, but a back-up system did its job and the vote count was only delayed a couple of hours. But there was a bit of good news too - there were only minor problems for voters at the polls. ideastream's politics reporter Kymberli Hagelberg has details.

2007 Election Results
Originally aired Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Results from Tuesday's general elections.

Special Plates for Sex Offenders?
Originally aired Thursday, November 8, 2007
Some people call it the modern-day equivalent of a "Scarlet Letter." The plan is to require sex offenders who've been freed from prison to have special green license plates on their cars as a warning to children to stay away. The proposal is getting hearings in the Ohio Senate, and they've attracted strong supporters and strong critics alike. Statehouse correspondent Bill Cohen reports.

Tuesday’s Election Declared A Success
Originally aired Thursday, November 8, 2007
Despite a handful of minor snafus, both the Secretary of State and the Director of the Cuyahoga County Elections Board are declaring Tuesday's election a success. After accusations of mismanagement in recent years, and a newly installed board still under administrative oversight, the stakes were high in this off-year election. ideastream's Dan Moulthrop has our story.

New Agreement Keeps Grand Prix on Lakefront
Originally aired Thursday, November 8, 2007
The city of Cleveland has just announced a five-year agreement to keep Indy-style racing on the lakefront. ideastream's David C. Barnett has more on an annual event that brought 150,000 fans to town this past summer.

Clergy Call For No Sleaze in Campaign ‘08
Originally aired Friday, November 9, 2007
A year away from the next Presidential election, some religious leaders across Ohio want an end to negative campaigning and a return to civility. Ideastream's Tasha Flournoy has more about the group's grassroots campaign.

State Leaders Taking Harder Line Against Mortgage Companies
Originally aired Friday, November 9, 2007
State leaders say they are taking a harder line against mortgage companies in an effort to stop the wave of foreclosures in Ohio. Statehouse correspondent Jo Ingles reports.

When the Buzzard Flew: John Gorman Interview
Originally aired Friday, November 9, 2007
"The Buzzard" -- WMMS -- dominated the Cleveland airwaves from the mid 70's through the 80's. A revolutionary station at the time, it came of age at a time when AM was king and FM stations were given few resources to be successful. John Gorman was a young music director when he moved from Boston to Cleveland to try to put some life in a station that had virtually non-existent ratings. He spoke with ideastream's Eric Wellman.

NOACA Divided on Voting System
Originally aired Monday, November 12, 2007
Members of the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency -- known as NOACA -- are still divided over their voting system. ideastream's Tasha Flournoy has this report.

Will Cuyahoga County be Ready for its Next Election?
Originally aired Monday, November 12, 2007
After a tally of votes from Tuesday's election that took hours longer than expected, Cuyahoga County officials say it's too early to say exactly what they need to do to be ready for the next election. ideastream Politics reporter Kymberli Hagelberg takes a look at what's being done to improve the county's performance before the presidential primary just months away.

Syrian Ambassador Speaks at City Club
Originally aired Monday, November 12, 2007
Syrian Ambassador Imad Moustapha believes his country is misunderstood, and he wants to set the record straight. He's touring the United States, speaking candidly to audiences of Americans about the war in Iraq, and the way to Middle East peace. On Friday he spoke at the City Club in Cleveland. Gretchen Cuda has the story.

New Meaning for Veteran’s Day For Some
Originally aired Monday, November 12, 2007
Federal, state and county offices and courts are closed today in observance of Veteran's Day. For some who are serving or have served in Iraq and Afghanistan, the holiday has a new meaning. ideastream's David C. Barnett spoke with one of these new veterans about how war has changed his life.

Signage Requested at Abortion Clinics
Originally aired Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Anti-abortion activists say once in a while, women in Ohio will get an abortion against their will -- they're being coerced into getting an abortion by someone else. To try to prevent those kinds of incidents, the advocates are pushing for a new state law that would require special signs at abortion clinics. Statehouse correspondent Bill Cohen reports.

Forum on Euclid Corridor Project
Originally aired Tuesday, November 13, 2007
The Regional Transit Authority's Euclid Corridor transportation project holds the promise of big change for Cleveland's "Main Street". But for some businesses along the route, the construction phase has been a big headache. ideastream's David C. Barnett has details on a public forum today aimed at answering some of the complaints.

New Security Procedures Coming to City Hall
Originally aired Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Cameras, X-Ray machines, and stricter I.D. rules are among some new security procedures coming to Cleveland City Hall. ideastream's David C. Barnett has more.

The Vanishing Voter
Originally aired Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Lately there have been some pretty important decisions made by a minuscule part of the population. Looking at last week's election results shows the mayor of Maple Heights was elected with just over 2,000 votes. Brooklyn Heights had some council people elected with fewer than 400 votes. The new book The Vanishing Voter looks at the causes and consequences of declining voter turnout. It's written by Tom Patterson, Professor of Government and the Press at Harvard's Kennedy School, and he spoke with ideastream's Eric Wellman.

A Land Bank for Ohio?
Originally aired Tuesday, November 13, 2007
News of the foreclosure and sub-prime lending crisis has become a near daily event. Whether it's Countrywide or E-trade, we're growing accustomed to hearing of another bank suffering multi-billion dollar losses. Those losses are one part of the landscape. The other part is the foreclosed and in many cases, abandoned homes, an estimated seven thousand in Cuyahoga County, for instance. What do you do with them? Cuyahoga County officials have an idea and if it happens, it would go statewide--it's called a land bank--and it's an idea that's already working in Flint, Michigan. It was the topic of Tuesday's Sound of Ideas. Ideastream Dan Moulthrop has our story.

RTA Budget Forces Some Hard Choices
Originally aired Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Some suburban commuters may find it harder to grab 40 winks on the trip downtown, next year. ideastream's David C. Barnett has more on some tough budget choices facing the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority.

Banishing Muslim Stereotypes
Originally aired Wednesday, November 14, 2007
A public information campaign aimed at banishing stereotypes about Muslims was launched in Cleveland, Tuesday. ideastream's David C. Barnett has more. Photo: Greater Cleveland Islamic leaders discuss Muslim stereotypes at a news conference Tuesday.

RTA Hears From Public On Euclid Corridor Project
Originally aired Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Cleveland business owners and patrons along Euclid Avenue have lingering concerns about the Euclid Corridor Project. Regional transit authority officials heard complaints at a public forum yesterday. ideastream's Tasha Flournoy has more.

Most Ohioans Want Tough Stand Against Illegal Immigration
Originally aired Wednesday, November 14, 2007
A new public opinion poll shows most Ohioans want to take a tough stand against illegal immigration. At the same time, a bill that would put sanctions against illegal immigrants has gone nowhere in the legislature. Statehouse correspondent Bill Cohen reports.

The Working Poor
Originally aired Wednesday, November 14, 2007
A growing number of Ohio families are turning to non-profit agencies for food, not just the unemployed but those with jobs -- the working poor. According to a statewide survey, one in every ten Ohioans turned to charity for food between July and September. And, advocates for the poor say the situation is getting worse. From member station WOSU Marilyn Smith reports on the situation in Columbus.

Sabathia Wins American League Cy Young Award
Originally aired Wednesday, November 14, 2007
A little consolation prize for sore Indians fans: Pitching ace C.C. Sabathia has won this year's American League Cy Young Award. ideastream's Dan Bobkoff has more.

Staying Safe from Superbugs
Originally aired Wednesday, November 14, 2007
In the last two weeks, there have been seven reported cases so-called superbug infections: Those are the bacteria resistant to common antibiotics. Keeping safe from superbugs was the topic of Wednesday's Sound of Ideas. Ideastream's Dan Moulthrop has more.

Wedge Named Manager of the Year
Originally aired Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Another honor goes to the Cleveland Indians, and this one's a first for the team. The Tribe's Eric Wedge is the recipient of Major League Baseball's American League Manager of the Year Award. ideastream's Bill Rice reports.

Jackson Announces Green Building Policy
Originally aired Thursday, November 15, 2007
Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson wants the city flush with green -- environmentally green buildings, that is. Jackson has proposed that all city housing investments adhere to strict energy efficient and conservation standards to qualify for tax breaks and other financial benefits from the city. But, some builder advocates and city council members fear an environmentally-friendly policy would have more cost more than benefit. ideastream's Tasha Flournoy has this report.

Panic Inducers May Face More Prison Time
Originally aired Thursday, November 15, 2007
People convicted of inducing panic at Ohio high schools and colleges may soon face more time in prison or youth detention centers. That's because the Ohio Senate has approved a bill, already OKed by the House, that bumps up penalties for bomb threats and violence at places where children gather. Statehouse correspondent Bill Cohen reports.

Advocacy Group Brings in Doctors to Make Case Against Mittal
Originally aired Thursday, November 15, 2007
The advocacy group Ohio Citizen Action is enlisting area doctors and nurses to make their case that pollution from Mittal Steel's Cleveland plant is harming residents. The group organized a public meeting on community concerns about the plant at Tri-C's Metro Campus last night. ideastream's Dan Bobkoff has the story.

Cleveland Schools Get Mixed Results on National Report Card
Originally aired Friday, November 16, 2007
A national report card released yesterday on Cleveland public school students math and reading skills shows mixed results. ideastream's Tasha Flournoy has this report.

Active Role for Church in 2008 Presidential Election
Originally aired Friday, November 16, 2007
The U.S. Catholic bishops issued their voter guide this week. And it came as no surprise to one prominent political scientist who's predicting an active role for the church in the upcoming presidential election. From member station WKSU, M.L. Schultze has the story.

Lawmakers to Get Involved in Big Ten Network Dispute
Originally aired Friday, November 16, 2007
The ongoing impasse between the Big 10 Network and Ohio's largest cable provider has prompted state lawmakers to get involved. Statehouse correspondent Karen Kasler reports.

OSU’s Record Breaking Athletic Budget
Originally aired Friday, November 16, 2007
The next chapter of the Buckeyes big rivalry with the Wolverines will be written this weekend when Ohio State takes on Michigan. But the big game is being overshadowed by OSU's loss to Illinois last weekend which bumped the Buckeyes out of college football's top spot. Still, OSU has one of the highest ranked football programs in the country -- something that's come at a price. The school spends more money per athlete than any other school in the country. Wall Street Journal Reporter Jon Weinbach looked into Ohio State's record breaking budget. He spoke with ideastream's Eric Wellman from his home in California.

Keeping Older Turkey Breeds Around
Originally aired Monday, November 19, 2007
The type of turkey you buy for your big holiday feast isn't always an easy decision. You can choose the usual supermarket bird, perhaps a kosher turkey, or one that's been fed only organic feed. You can also buy a heritage turkey that's got a little wilder history. Rebecca Williams has the story of farmers who are trying to keep these older turkey breeds from going extinct.

Browns Win in Overtime
Originally aired Monday, November 19, 2007
The Browns beat the Ravens 33-30 in overtime yesterday, and it all came down to Phil Dawson's foot and the wily speed of Josh Cribbs. Dan Moulthrop has the story.

Iconic St. Luke’s Building Gets a Makeover
Originally aired Tuesday, November 20, 2007
When St. Luke's Medical Center was closed, eight years ago, many residents felt that the heart of their community had been torn out. Now, with the help of a million-dollar cash infusion, the old hospital complex is about to be reborn. ideastream's David C. Barnett reports.

Storm Water Tunnel For Columbus
Originally aired Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Under pressure from the Ohio EPA, the city of Columbus is planning to build a tunnel system to handle surges in storm water runoff. At present during heavy rainfall, polluted water empties into the Scioto River untreated. It's a project similar to one underway in Cleveland and with similar funding issues. From Ohio Public Radio station WOSU, Sam Hendren reports.

The Question of Commuter Rail
Originally aired Tuesday, November 20, 2007
With the cost of gasoline seemingly stuck above three dollars a gallon, advocates for commuter rail have renewed their call for a new regional train system that would carry people from the far suburbs and beyond into downtown Cleveland. But, critics question where the money will come from, and whether there are enough people willing to get on board. ideastream's David C. Barnett has more.

Snoezelen Therapy for Alzheimer’s Patients
Originally aired Tuesday, November 20, 2007
During the mental decline of Alzheimer's disease, patients often become agitated, anxious and depressed as their memory fails them and they lose their grip on the world around them. Anti-anxiety and anti-depressant medications are typically given to these patients, but University Hospital's Dolan Center for memory and aging is experimenting with something a little different -- Snoezelen. It's a type of therapy that uses color, light and sound to calm agitated patients and reduce their dependence on medications. ideastream producer Gretchen Cuda has the story.

Financial Responsibility is Elementary
Originally aired Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Fourth graders at a Cleveland elementary school got a lesson in financial literacy Tuesday that organizers would like to see used by teachers across the state. ideastream's Kymberli Hagelberg has details.

Holiday Travel Advice: Be Prepared
Originally aired Wednesday, November 21, 2007
It's the busiest travel day of the year by most measures, which means long lines at airport security checkpoints, traffic congestion on highways, and possible flight delays. No matter how often or seldom you travel, everyone has air travel concerns. ideastream's Tasha Flournoy shares some travel know-how from both airline officials and travelers.

Behavior Change Needed Before Urban Resurgance
Originally aired Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Scott Wolstein's proposal to build a housing and retail development in the flats is by far the most ambitious proposal in Cleveland. But there are many smaller projects that aim to revitalize city neighborhoods by bringing folks back from the suburbs. Kyle Ezell runs an urban consulting business in Columbus and he says projects like the one in the Flats are necessary to help renew cities. But he says before cities can make a resurgence, people need to change their behavior. He's made it his life's work to help educate people how to live in cities.

Hotels Seek to Lessen Environmental Impact
Originally aired Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Travelers making hotel reservations this holiday season are probably not thinking about whether the room has a low-flow toilet. But little by little, hotels are making changes to lighten their environmental impact. Rebecca Williams reports it's not always easy for travelers to know how green a hotel is.

Myers University and Donor Trade Accusations
Originally aired Thursday, November 22, 2007
Accusations continue to fly between Cleveland's oldest college and a recent out-of-state benefactor. Ideastream's Dan Bobkoff has an update.

Cuyahoga Vote Count is In
Originally aired Thursday, November 22, 2007
The final tallies of votes cast in Cuyahoga County's November 6th election are in. Ideastream's Kymberli Hagelberg reports.

Incoming Lorain Mayor May Split Safety/Service Role
Originally aired Friday, November 23, 2007
The job of safety/service director in the city of Lorain has received some more attention lately, ever since the acting mayor promoted his intern to the position a few weeks ago. Now the incoming mayor says he may retool the position when he takes office in January. Ideastream's Dan Bobkoff reports.

Cuyahoga Voting Machines Get Tested
Originally aired Monday, November 26, 2007
The manufacturer of Cuyahoga County's trouble-prone electronic voting machines will come to Cleveland next Monday to try to solve continuing technical problems. ideastream Politics reporter Kymberli Hagelberg has details.

Cleveland Hopkins Airport and Cab Companies to Faceoff in Court
Originally aired Monday, November 26, 2007
A federal judge will hear a dispute this week between Cleveland Hopkins Airport and cab companies wanting to serve airport customers. ideastream's Tasha Flournoy reporting.

From Intern to Director
Originally aired Monday, November 26, 2007
It's the second highest government position in Lorain, and some say the most important. The safety/services director is in charge of the police and fire departments, sanitation, and snow removal. And right now, the man in charge is a 21-year-old college senior, who, just weeks ago, was an intern. ideastream's Dan Bobkoff has the story.

Food Banks Coming Up Short
Originally aired Tuesday, November 27, 2007
The Cleveland Food Bank won a national award this past October for its public education program. The Food Bank also did record business, last month, and that's a cause of concern for the organization's officials. ideastream's David C. Barnett has more.

The Flu Is Starting to Fly
Originally aired Tuesday, November 27, 2007
The pleasures of the holiday season are sometimes tempered by the fever and fatigue of the flu season. And recent stories of more serious flu strains can be confusing for anyone who just wants to stay as healthy as possible. ideastream's David C. Barnett has more on the Cleveland Health Department's annual immunization program.

Prosecutors Wants Death Penalty Expansion
Originally aired Tuesday, November 27, 2007
At the same time that Ohio lawyers are calling for a moratorium on capitol punishment here, Ohio prosecutors are calling for an expansion of the death penalty. They want it applied to criminals who kill judges. The idea is just starting to be considered by state senators in committee. Statehouse correspondent Bill Cohen reports.

Solon Builder Heads to Prison for Mortgage Fraud
Originally aired Tuesday, November 27, 2007
A Solon builder and a former US Postal clerk tied to over $15 million in mortgage fraud are going to prison. The two were the first to be sentenced in a mortgage fraud ring that involved at least 38 homes in Solon and Glenwillow. ideastream's Mhari Saito reports.

Breuer Facelift?
Originally aired Wednesday, November 28, 2007
As downtown Cleveland ages it is occasionally looking for a face-lift. Sometimes that involves tearing down the old to make way for the new. That was slated to happen with the Ameritrust Tower at Ninth and Euclid, which has been the butt of jokes for many years. As part of a multi-million-dollar development in the heart of downtown, the tower had a date with the wrecking ball. But now, it may have a new lease on life.

Milk Production Changing
Originally aired Wednesday, November 28, 2007
The way milk is produced is changing. Many dairy farms are much bigger and more efficient than those of the past. They're often called factory farms. Neighbors of these farms say they're paying a high price for the cheap dairy products on your store shelves. Mark Brush reports.

What Would Merging Mean?
Originally aired Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Northeast Ohio's economy has drastically changed over the last decade. Municipal budgets have shrunk. Manufacturing jobs have declined and the urban core -- Cleveland -- is losing population. As leaders search for solutions, talk of regionalism has ignited conversations and ideas, including more collaboration among cities, even the possibility of merger between city and county government in Cleveland and Cuyahoga County. This week ideastream is exploring that radical idea with reports and interviews on radio and TV. A special hour long edition of ideas on the topic will be aired Thursday night at 8:00, and this morning economics reporter Tasha Flournoy gives us more perspective on how some local mayors view regional cooperation.

Homeland Security Strengthening Port Security
Originally aired Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Security at the Port of Cleveland is getting tighter. On Wednesday, the Department of Homeland Security rolled out its new security card for truck drivers and others who need unescorted access to parts of the port. ideastream's Dan Bobkoff has more.

Investing In Cleveland Neighborhoods
Originally aired Thursday, November 29, 2007
Urban planners say neighborhoods are the core of urban centers, and without adequate housing, jobs, and community services within neighborhoods, cities will decline. Local and national leaders will talk today about community development trends and plans shaping up in Cleveland. ideastream's Tasha Flournoy has this preview.

Brown Calls for Policy Change on Chinese Products
Originally aired Thursday, November 29, 2007
Senator Sherrod Brown says the recent examples of dangerous toys and other products imported from China can be partly blamed on bad U.S. government policies. The Democrat is calling for several changes. Ohio Public Radio's Bill Cohen reports.

Outgoing Mayors Attack Tax Abatements
Originally aired Thursday, November 29, 2007
Outgoing suburban mayors, appearing on 90.3's The Sound of Ideas yesterday attacked the concept of tax abatements used by some communities to lure business away from others. We get more from ideastream's Paul Cox.

What Would Merging Mean?: The Louisville Model
Originally aired Thursday, November 29, 2007
This week on WCPN and on WVIZ's ideas program, we've raised questions about the status of regional cooperation. One somewhat radical approach that is talked about occasionally is the merger of local governments and public services. You can learn more during an hour-long discussion about it, tonight at 8:00 on WVIZ. To set the stage, ideastream's Rick Jackson reports on another city that took the plunge toward merger: Louisville, Kentucky.

20 Years Ago, Kosar Tribute Song Was Huge in Cleveland
Originally aired Friday, November 30, 2007
With five games left in the regular season, Cleveland Browns fans are hoping for something that, a year ago, was practically unimaginable - a shot at the playoffs. The last time the Browns generated this much excitement was 20 years ago, when a couple of winning seasons prompted scores of musical homages to celebrate the team. Many fans will recall one such tribute... to quarterback sensation Bernie Kosar. Cleveland Magazine writer Andy Netzel tells the story of three everyday guys who almost struck it big with "Bernie Bernie". But just like Kosar and those Browns teams of the mid-80s, they fell just short.

Backers of Abstinence-Only Sex Education Rally at Statehouse
Originally aired Friday, November 30, 2007
More than 200 backers of abstinence-only sex education rallied at the Ohio Statehouse yesterday. They were upset that Governor Strickland has decided Ohio will no longer put state money into abstinence-only programs in the schools. But the Governor is standing firm. Statehouse correspondent Bill Cohen files this report.

Commissioners Demand Change in Voting Equipment… Again
Originally aired Friday, November 30, 2007
For the second time this year, Cuyahoga County Commissioners are demanding a major change in the county's voting equipment. The commissioners worry that problems during this week's election board recount could spell trouble during next year's presidential election. ideastream's Tasha Flournoy has this report.

What Would Merging Mean?: Recap
Originally aired Friday, November 30, 2007
This week on WCPN, we've been raising questions about the status of regional cooperation, including the somewhat radical approach of possibly merging local governments and public services. This morning, Rick Jackson recaps what local experts in and outside government say about lessons learned from another city which took the merger plunge in 2003: Louisville, Kentucky. The discussion aired last night on on the ideas program on our sister station WVIZ.