Regional News Stories Archive: January 2008

Ohioans Get Ready to Apply to Become Convention Delegates
Originally aired Wednesday, January 2, 2008
This week Ohioans hoping to go to the Republican and Democratic National Conventions are finishing up their last minute paperwork. Ideastream's Mhari Saito reports.

Ohio Minimum Wage Increased
Originally aired Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Ohio's low-wage earners are seeing a boost in their hourly pay. The state minimum wage increase to seven dollars an hour takes effect today. It's the second to occur under a measure passed by voters that adjusts the minimum wage for inflation each year. ideastream®'s economics reporter Tasha Flournoy explains.

More Mortgage-Related Job Cuts at National City
Originally aired Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Cleveland-based National City Bank today announced it's laying off 900 more people and shutting down its wholesale mortgage division. ideastream®'s Mhari Saito reports.

Less Crime but More Murders in 2007 in Cleveland
Originally aired Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Unlike other cities in Ohio which saw murder rates decline last year, 2007 was a particularly deadly year in Cleveland. Police say there were 134 murders versus 119 in 2006. But overall crime was down. ideastream®'s Dan Bobkoff has more.

Secretary of State visits Cuyahoga Elections Board
Originally aired Thursday, January 3, 2008
Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner visited the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections Wednesday, a week after spearheading a major change in the county's voting procedures. ideastream Politics reporter Kymberli Hagelberg has more.

Ohio Senate Pleased With 2007 Progress
Originally aired Thursday, January 3, 2008
The leaders of the Ohio Senate seem to have a lot in common -- they're both pleased with what was accomplished in their chamber in 2007, a year some called a very slow one. But they disagree strongly on some issues, and at least one could come up for a debate in the next few months. Statehouse correspondent Karen Kasler reports.

National City Faces More Layoffs
Originally aired Thursday, January 3, 2008
Cleveland-based National City Bank announced it's laying off 900 more people and will stop making loans through brokers, called wholesale mortgage lending. ideastream's Mhari Saito reports.

The Deadly Year in Cleveland
Originally aired Thursday, January 3, 2008
Unlike other cities in Ohio which saw murder rates decline last year, 2007 was a particularly deadly year in Cleveland. Police say there were 134 murders last year, up fifteen from the year before. But overall crime was down. ideastream's Dan Bobkoff has more.

Shaker Heights Residents Mobilizing
Originally aired Friday, January 4, 2008
Shaker Heights residents are mobilizing after a man was attacked on New Year's Eve. ideastream's Tasha Flournoy has more.

Shaker Heights Wants “Edge” Strategy
Originally aired Monday, January 7, 2008
Shaker Heights residents and city officials say they want an "edge" strategy to tackle what some see as an escalating problem: crime spilling across the border from Cleveland. Concern has mounted since a resident was beaten by a group of area youths while out for a walk early New Year's Eve. Shaker Heights neighbors gathered Saturday to talk about ways to help improve public safety and mobilize the community. ideastream's Tasha Flournoy has this report.

Sweeney Under Fire
Originally aired Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Martin Sweeney's troubled tenure as head of Cleveland's City Council took another hit over the past few days. The Ward 20 Councilman's attempt to run for a County office has reportedly raised a storm of protest. ideastream's David C. Barnett has more.

ER Trips Increase
Originally aired Tuesday, January 8, 2008
The number of trips to Ohio emergency rooms continues to rise, but almost none of the increase is coming from patients who have private insurance. Statehouse correspondent Bill Cohen reports.

A Day with Ohio Delegate Tim Ryan
Originally aired Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Ohio is losing many of its senior members of Congress, including Republicans Dave Hobson and Ralph Regula. The two were known for bringing home the appropriations bacon for state projects. Now Democrat Tim Ryan, one of the youngest members of the Ohio delegation, may be best poised to pick up that mantle. Jodi Breisler spent a day with Ryan on Capitol Hill.

Police Arrest 6 In New Year’s Eve Attack
Originally aired Wednesday, January 9, 2008
A total of six teenagers have now been arrested and charged in the New Year's Eve beating of a Shaker Heights man. ideastream's Tasha Flournoy has more.

Conservation Groups Appeal Court Decison To Limit Public Access To Lake Erie
Originally aired Wednesday, January 9, 2008
A conservation group has appealed a December court decision that limits public access along Lake Erie. ideastream's Tasha Flournoy has this report.

New Gang Unit Part of Cleveland Anti-Crime Push
Originally aired Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson is mounting a high-profile push to get tougher on drugs and gangs. While overall crime fell last year in the city, murders went up - and authorities say the culprits are in large part teenage gang members. The mayor detailed the plan to reporters Wednesday. ideastream's Dan Bobkoff has the story.

Ohio Activists Till the Grassroots for their Candidates
Originally aired Thursday, January 10, 2008
This week's shake-up of the Democratic and Republican presidential race has survivors hustling in the next round of primary states which take place later this month and preparing for what some call Tsunami Tuesday.February 5, when 22 more states vote. So, it's no surprise that the campaigns in Ohio remain largely amateur affairs. That's not to say there isn't activity ...and excitement -- at least for some. Ideastream politics reporter Kymberli Hagelberg has more.

Dennis Kucinich Makes Run For Congress Official
Originally aired Thursday, January 10, 2008
Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich addressed his critics Wednesday and assured supporters he's not giving up his seat in the 10th District without a fight. ideastream Politics reporter Kymberli Hagelberg has more.

Upcoming Euclid Election Assures African American on City Council
Originally aired Thursday, January 10, 2008
In many Northeast Ohio cities, the election of an African-American person to city council draws no special attention. But in Euclid -- where election of a black person is guaranteed to happen in less than eight weeks -- it will be momentous. ideastream's Rick Jackson reports.

More Cuyahoga County Seniors Looking for Help with Housing
Originally aired Friday, January 11, 2008
In 2007, the number of Cuyahoga County seniors calling 211, the United Way of Greater Cleveland's First Call for Help continued to climb. The 24-hour hotline provides help on everything from finding food pantries to getting help with substance abuse. In 2005, nearly ten thousand seniors dialed 211 looking for help. That number climbed to over 16 thousand in 2007. ideastream®'s Mhari Saito reports many seniors were looking for help keeping up with the bills on their homes.

Hypertension a Tough Diagnosis in Children
Originally aired Friday, January 11, 2008
Every time Dr. David Kaelber -- a physician at MetroHealth -- would diagnose a child with high blood pressure, the conversation usually played out something like this... Based on these conversations, Dr. Kaelber had a hunch that high blood pressure in kids, especially kids who are not overweight, goes largely undiagnosed. He tested his hypothesis by developing a computer program that trolled thousands of electronic records in MetroHealth's system. He found that 75 percent of kids with hypertension never get diagnosed. His work was selected as one of the ten most significant studies of the year by the American Heart Association. When ideastream's Eric Wellman spoke with Kaelber, he said pediatric hypertension is a tough diagnosis because what's considered normal varies by height and age.

Questioning Northeast Ohio’s Earthquakes
Originally aired Friday, January 11, 2008
A small earthquake that occurred earlier this week has prompted questions about why Ohio has had so many small quakes in recent years. ideastream's Rick Jackson reports.

Cleveland Taking Investment Banks to Court
Originally aired Friday, January 11, 2008
The city of Cleveland is suing 21 major investment banks in response to the foreclosure crisis. It's one of the first large cities to take the banks to court, as ideastream's Mhari Saito reports.

Study: Numbers of Bank-Owned Property in Cuyahoga County Skyrocket
Originally aired Monday, January 14, 2008
There are so many homes in Cleveland now owned by financial institutions that the system to get them back onto the market is overloaded. That's according to a study just out from Case Western Reserve University. ideastream's®: Mhari Saito reports.

Stuart Lichter Profile
Originally aired Monday, January 14, 2008
This week developers are expected to sign a deal to transform North Canton's now-closed Hoover vacuum cleaner plant into an assortment of offices, houses and retail space. Stuart Lichter is the man behind the deal. Lichter has quietly amassed 50 million square feet of industrial property, making him the largest private holder of industrial property in the country. ideastream®'s Tasha Flournoy has more on investor who's taken notice of Northeast Ohio.

Brunner to Meet with Election Officials
Originally aired Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner is meeting with elections officials and concerned voters to discuss her recommended changes to the voting process. She's likely to hear some strong opinions today when she speaks at the annual meeting of the Ohio Association of Election Officials. Jo Ingles reports from Columbus.

Ameritrust Complex Sold
Originally aired Tuesday, January 15, 2008
This morning a Willoughby-based company has bought the Ameritrust complex in downtown Cleveland, ending months of uncertainty about the site’s future. ideastream’s Tasha Flournoy has this report.

Police Union Head Not Happy With Jackson Street Crime Plan
Originally aired Wednesday, January 16, 2008
While many city residents are applauding Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson's get-tough approach to reducing urban street crime, the head of the police union isn't so enthusiastic. ideastream's Gretchen Cuda reports.

Northeast Ohio Ranked Top Intelligent Community
Originally aired Thursday, January 17, 2008
Northeast Ohio has been named one of the world's most intelligent communities - techy broadband intelligence, that is. The Intelligent Community Forum, a New York-based think tank, has ranked the region as a top finalist for Intelligent Community of the Year. ideastream's Tasha Flournoy has this report.

Ohio Highways May Be Less Safe Than Before
Originally aired Thursday, January 17, 2008
One Ohio legislator says the state's highways may not be as safe as they used to be, because a growing number of truckers cannot read highway signs written in English. He's proposing a new law that would require written drivers license exams for truckers be given only in English, without the help of interpreters. Statehouse correspondent Bill Cohen reports.

Kenyans in Ohio Watch… and Wait
Originally aired Thursday, January 17, 2008
With escalating violence in Kenya following the Presidential election, a tiny community of Kenyans in Northeast Ohio is monitoring events at home as best they can. Whether relocated here or just visiting, Kenyans in Northeast Ohio have witnessed an unexpected outpouring of support for their suffering countrymen. ideastream's Rick Jackson reports.

Greater Cleveland Economic Growth Slows
Originally aired Thursday, January 17, 2008
While national experts are hinting at a possible recession, Greater Cleveland’s regional economic picture remains steady despite declines in some sectors. That’s according to the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland’s regular “beige book” reports. ideastream’s Economics reporter Tasha Flournoy has more.

Kucinich Camp Defends Investigation Into Cimperman
Originally aired Friday, January 18, 2008
An aide to Congressman Dennis Kucinich today defended the congressman’s request that the federal government investigate a challenger for his 10th district seat. ideastream’s Tasha Flournoy has more.

Hillary Clinton Supporters Get Organized in Columbus
Originally aired Friday, January 18, 2008
Ohio supporters of Hillary Clinton are meeting this weekend to take the first steps in setting up a state-wide campaign structure. ideastream politics reporter Kymberli Hagelberg has details.

ACLU Sues to Block Cuyahoga Voting Switch
Originally aired Friday, January 18, 2008
The ACLU has filed a federal lawsuit in hopes of blocking Ohio’s largest county from going forward with plans for a new paper voting system in time for the March 4th primary. ideastream’s Bill Rice has the story.

Ambulance Company Asks State for Medicaid Payment Increase
Originally aired Friday, January 18, 2008
A private Ohio ambulance company says every time it transports a medicaid patient to a hospital or dialysis session, it loses money because the state reimbursement payments are so low. The company is asking a judge to order an increase in state payments to medicaid providers, but state officials say that's nearly impossible, especially because of a looming state budget crunch. Details now from statehouse correspondent Bill Cohen.

Remembering the 1978 Blizzard
Originally aired Friday, January 18, 2008
These days, weather forecasters and street maintenance officials refer to a winter storm as a "snow event" -- it kind of brings to mind a special performance. Well, thirty years ago this month, Mother Nature put on a command performance --- the mother of all "snow events". ideastream®'s David C. Barnett takes us back to the blizzard that shut down Ohio, and examines how we might handle it today. Photo courtesy Cleveland State University’s Press Collection

Bush Proposes Tax Rebates
Originally aired Monday, January 21, 2008
Last week President Bush unveiled a stimulus plan with a simple premise: put money into people’s pockets, and they’ll pump it back into an ailing economy. People on the streets of downtown Cleveland seem to like the idea, as ideastream’s Economics reporter Tasha Flournoy found out.

Wind Industry in Northeast Ohio Making Progress but Still Uncertain
Originally aired Monday, January 21, 2008
The effort to bring wind energy to North East Ohio got a lift last week. Cuyahoga Country recently raised just over a million dollars to study the possibility of building wind turbines in Lake Erie. Also, a recently completed study of the lake's wind speeds offers some promising data. Lisa Ann Pinkerton reports.

The Message of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Originally aired Monday, January 21, 2008
Civil rights leaders say teaching the message of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to each new generation is critical in keeping his legacy alive. Each year, kids from around Ohio enter a statewide oratory contest with King's words and work as its focus. Here are some excerpts from this year's winning speeches, delivered by their authors.

Voting Change May Not Happen
Originally aired Monday, January 21, 2008
The big moves that the Ohio Secretary of State called for after a report found the state's voting machines are vulnerable to malfunctions may not happen after all. Statehouse correspondent Karen Kasler reports.

So, What Are the Issues?
Originally aired Tuesday, January 22, 2008
There's still a month and a half to go before Ohio's primary, so the Buckeye State hasn't been a top spot on the tour buses for candidates of either party. Reporters from WCPN and public radio stations across the state hit the streets to ask Ohioans which candidates have messages that resonate with them.

Ice Wine Thrives in the Cold
Originally aired Tuesday, January 22, 2008
When you think about wine you might think about the vineyards of France or warm Napa Valley in California. But one wine is the product of cold weather. Ann Murray has the story.

Ohio Banks Announce Losses
Originally aired Tuesday, January 22, 2008
For bankers and financial analysts, today is Black Tuesday, a day when dozens of banks across the nation will make their quarterly financial reports available. The numbers could add another tremor to financial markets already feeling the effects of the US sub-prime loan crisis. ideastream® reporter Kymberli Hagelberg has details.

Stock Market Tumult Affects Northeast Ohio
Originally aired Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Like the rest of the country, Northeast Ohio is taking a deep breath after a hectic day of financial news and activity. ideastream®'s Dan Bobkoff looks back at what looked at first like a financial meltdown, and some of the local reaction as the day evolved.

Brokers and Public React to Stock Market Woes
Originally aired Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Both brokers and their clients are exercising cautious optimism in response to yesterday's emergency interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve Bank. ideastream®'s Tasha Flournoy has this report.

SOI Weighs the Candidates on Health Care
Originally aired Wednesday, January 23, 2008
When voters go to the polls to cast their presidential ballots this fall one of the major issues they'll consider is where a candidate stands on health care reform. According to recent tracking polls, fixing our county's broken health care system ranks second only to the Iraq war among issues that concern voters. Here in Ohio, where two of the states top four employers are hospitals, it’s an especially hot topic – as evidenced on 90.3’s The Sound of Ideas yesterday. ideastream®'s Gretchen Cuda reports.

Leaders in Columbus Watching Stock Market
Originally aired Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Leaders in Columbus are among those paying close attention to the recent volatility in the stock market. Statehouse Correspondent Bill Cohen looks at what a downturn in the economy could mean for taxpayers and people who depend on state services.

Brothers in Battle
Originally aired Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Last fall 90.3 aired a number of stories about the contributions of people from Northeast Ohio to winning World War II. Tonight at Joseph Beth Booksellers at Legacy Village there will be more war stories. These are the stories of soldiers from Easy Company of the Army's famed 101st Airborne Division. They include Bill Guarnere and Edward Heffron, otherwise known as Wild Bill and Babe to those familiar with the book or the mini-series Band of Brothers. Now the pair from South Philly have a book of their own called Brothers in Battle. ideastream®'s Dan Moulthrop spoke with them yesterday.

Kucinich Makes Plea for Cash in Web Video
Originally aired Wednesday, January 23, 2008
It's a further sign that Dennis Kucinich is facing some real competition in his re-election bid to congress. The 6-term congressman has posted a plea for donations on the video-sharing site YouTube. ideastream's Dan Bobkoff has the story.

Team NEO Releases Quarterly Report
Originally aired Thursday, January 24, 2008
One regional marketing group is trying to break through the gloomy economic news with a new report on jobs and employment. ideastream®'s Tasha Flournoy has more.

Kucinich Faces Competition for Congressional Seat
Originally aired Thursday, January 24, 2008
For the last few months Ohio's long-shot presidential hopeful Dennis Kucinich has been busy campaigning for the Democratic and that has made him vulnerable as he seeks a seventh term to congress. Four other Democrats are vying for his seat. ideastream® politics reporter Kymberli Hagelberg examines the field.

Autopsy Lawsuit at Ohio Supreme Court
Originally aired Thursday, January 24, 2008
There's an unusual case that's raising some difficult legal questions. During an autopsy, an Ohio county coroner removed a man's brain and never put it back. It's a common practice. But when Christopher Albrecht's parents learned years later that they had buried him without a brain, they filed a lawsuit that raises many questions about the treatment of bodies after death. The case has garnered international attention. The Ohio Supreme Court heard the arguments yesterday. Statehouse correspondent Bill Cohen reports.

Ohio Workforce Could Expand with Increased Energy Manufacturing
Originally aired Thursday, January 24, 2008
A coalition of labor and environmentalists have released a new report about Ohio potentially growing its job force by increasing energy manufacturing. ideastream's Rick Jackson reports.

Kucinich Drops Out of Presidential Race
Originally aired Thursday, January 24, 2008
Dennis Kucinich is dropping his longshot bid for the presidency. ideastream's Dan Bobkoff reports.

University of Akron Gets Caution on Bond Rating
Originally aired Friday, January 25, 2008
The University of Akron’s credit rating is still in good standing, but a leading bond-rating agency has a message for the school: Watch your debt to revenue ratio. ideastream®’s Tasha Flournoy has more.

Questions Remain about Laptops in Schools
Originally aired Friday, January 25, 2008
Proponents of so-called one-to-one laptop programs - where each student gets a computer to take home - say it's premature to sound the death knell. They say it's all about the execution. ideastream® education reporter Dan Bobkoff takes a look at programs here in Northeast Ohio.

Cleveland Clinic’s Trade Secrets Unprotected
Originally aired Friday, January 25, 2008
State officials have ruled the Cleveland Clinic Foundation must reveal what it considers to be trade secrets in a dispute with the City of Beachwood. ideastream’s Tasha Flournoy has more.

Kucinich Officially Drops Out of Presidential Race
Originally aired Friday, January 25, 2008
Flanked by supporters at a Union Hall in Cleveland this afternoon, Democrat Dennis Kucinich officially ended his presidential campaign. ideastream's Dan Bobkoff has the story.

Pollworkers Training for Switch to Paper Ballots in Cuyahoga County
Originally aired Monday, January 28, 2008
As a result of an order last month from Ohio's top elections official, Cuyahoga County is switching from electronic voting machines back to paper ballots. That means ALL poll-workers in the county need to be re-trained before the March 4th primary and evaluated to make sure they are ready. ideastream's Mhari Saito reports.

2008 Presidential Race Profile: Hillary Clinton
Originally aired Monday, January 28, 2008
After Barak Obama's win in South Carolina, there is no clear leader in the Democratic pack which is increasingly looking like a race between Obama and Hillary Clinton. All the presidential candidates have promised change -- but it's worth asking how each candidate might translate campaign promises into actual policy. How do personalities and experiences bode for how each candidate will govern? Each day this week we'll focus on a different candidate. Today Elizabeth Wynne Johnson imagines Hillary Clinton as President.

Low Income Heat Programs Get Boost
Originally aired Monday, January 28, 2008
Programs to help low income Ohioans pay their heating bills have gotten a boost. ideastream®'s Rick Jackson reports.

Viktor Schreckengost Dies at 101
Originally aired Monday, January 28, 2008
Artist and designer Viktor Schreckengost of Cleveland Heights died late Saturday, at the age of 101, while wintering in Florida. ideastream®'s Rick Jackson has a retrospective.

Furniture Stores Hit by Housing Woes
Originally aired Monday, January 28, 2008
The Commerce Department reported yesterday that new home sales plunged a record 26 percent last year. The median price of homes barely budged. The dramatic housing downturn has rippled throughout the economy, and one sector especially affected is furniture stores. ideastream’s Dan Bobkoff reports.

Relaxing Standards for Military Recruitment
Originally aired Tuesday, January 29, 2008
There's growing evidence that the military is finding it increasingly difficult to meet its recruitment goals and has had to relax some of its standards. Not long ago, 90 percent of Army recruits had a high school diploma at least. But today, only about 70 percent have graduated high school. The army is also granting more so-called moral waivers than it used to -- allowing more people with felony convictions to enlist. Lawrence Korb is a Senior fellow at the Center for American progress, a progressive think tank. He served as assistant secretary of defense during the Reagan Administration. He recently came to Cleveland to speak with students at Case Western Reserve University. ideastream's Eric Wellman asked him whether the military was designed to handle conflicts like Iraq and Afghanistan.

Democrats Gearing Up for Ohio
Originally aired Tuesday, January 29, 2008
In five weeks, Ohio voters will be casting ballots in the presidential primary, but there's been little visible campaign activity here. That's expected to change right after the Super Tuesday -- February 5th. Ohio Public Radio's Bill Cohen reports on how the top Democratic candidates are gearing up their campaigns here.

2008 Presidential Race Profile: Rudy Guiliani
Originally aired Tuesday, January 29, 2008
As Republican voters in Florida head to the polls this morning, they will likely determine the fate of former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani's presidential bid. Giuliani is staking his candidacy on today's primary. In continuing evaluation of how the candidates might work with Congress if elected, Capitol News Connection reporter Evelyn Lombardo imagines Rudy Giuliani as President.

Bill Clinton Campaigns for Hillary Clinton at Tri-C
Originally aired Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Bill Clinton came to Northeast Ohio to raise money for his wife's presidential bid Tuesday, stopping first at Tri-C to make his pitch for Hillary Clinton to a general audience. ideastream® Politics reporter Kymberli Hagelberg has details.

New Health Care Bill May Cut Ranks of Uninsured
Originally aired Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Backers of a new bill in the Ohio House of Representatives say it will help cut the ranks of the uninsured in half over the next few years. But the bill will likely face heavy scrutiny in the coming months. Ohio Public Radio's Jo Ingles reports.

2008 Presidential Race Profile: John McCain
Originally aired Thursday, January 31, 2008
While the Presidential hopefuls are campaigning for change, there's also a battle over who has the right experience for the job. Arizona Senator John McCain plays a unique role as the institutional rebel who is also part of the D.C. establishment -- especially after Tuesday's win in the Florida Primary. This week we're exploring how each candidate might work with congress if elected. Today, Jodi Breisler imagines John McCain as President.

Science & Tech Public Schools Get a Boost
Originally aired Thursday, January 31, 2008
The plan to create five public schools dedicated to a curriculum of science, technology, engineering and math is pushing forward, powered by a multi-million dollar boost from a national foundation. Ohio Public Radio's Karen Kasler reports.

Company Benefit from High-Skilled Immigrants
Originally aired Thursday, January 31, 2008
Most of the talk about immigration in this country has to do with illegal immigration -- borders, fences, and unskilled labor. This week on Morning Edition, we're exploring a different side of the issue: the demand for highly skilled immigrants and the barriers they face in coming to the United States. Yesterday we profiled Vivek Wadhwa. He's an Indian-American entrepreneur, who favors reducing many of those barriers. Today, we thought we'd take his ideas a step further. How can specific companies benefit from these high skilled immigrants? And more importantly, would northeast Ohio as a region be better off if we let more of them in?