Regional News Stories Archive: April 2008

Famed Northeast Ohio Musical Family Suffers Second Loss
Originally aired Tuesday, April 1, 2008
It may be a month before we know the cause of singer Sean Levert's death. The 39-year-old performer's passing is another shocking blow to a famous Northeast Ohio musical family. Ideastream®'s David C. Barnett has more.

Low Property Values for a Good Cause
Originally aired Tuesday, April 1, 2008
A few dollar's-worth of property may change the face of several Cleveland neighborhoods. Ideastream®'s David C. Barnett has more on some abandoned buildings that are about to be reclaimed.

Man Lies in Bed for Three Months for Research
Originally aired Tuesday, April 1, 2008
How far would you be willing to go to help out with scientific research? What would you be willing to give up? There's a man at the Cleveland Clinic who's been lying in bed for the past 85 days as part of a study. In nearly three months he hasn't so much as even sat upright. But, as ideastream's Eric Wellman found out, Monday was a very special day for Dominic Prinzo.

Plan Targets Adult Students
Originally aired Tuesday, April 1, 2008
One part of the solution to Ohio's shortage of highly educated workers is to make it easier for adults to go back to school. The 10-year education plan unveiled this week by the Strickland Administration aims to do just that. ideastream's Kymberli Hagelberg reports.

Auto Industry Job Loss May Be Slowing
Originally aired Wednesday, April 2, 2008
In the recent primary election, there was a lot of talk in Ohio about NAFTA, which is often blamed for sending manufacturing jobs to Mexico. But there's a new report that suggests that the loss of American jobs in the auto industry may be slowing down. It was compiled by the Center for Automotive Research which follows trends in the auto business from Ann Arbor, Michigan. ideastream®'s Eric Wellman spoke to Kristin Dzierzek, a senior project manager who oversaw the report.

National City Weighs Strategies Amid Sale Rumors
Originally aired Wednesday, April 2, 2008
National City announced yesterday that it’s reviewing strategic alternatives for the bank. That comes after weeks of rumors that it’s been looking for a buyer. But, some business experts say a buyer isn’t the only alternative that National City could be looking at. Ideastream’s Tasha Flournoy has this report.

King James Tournament
Originally aired Thursday, April 3, 2008
Akron will host 12 thousand amateur basketball players, their fans and coaches later this month, for an event named after Northeast Ohio's most celebrated sports star. ideastream's Rick Jackson reports.

Growing Cities With Human Capital
Originally aired Friday, April 4, 2008
Some of the nation's leading economic thinkers have gathered in Cleveland this week to discuss the decline of major cities --- and how to help them grow again. ideastream®'s David C. Barnett has more.

CSU Issues Report Card on Northeast’s Ohio Economy
Originally aired Friday, April 4, 2008
In the last ten years, Northeast Ohio has seen steady job loss, but the region’s gross product increased slightly. That’s according to the annual findings from a Cleveland State University economic brief released this week. The study also reports the Akron’s metro area had job growth in the last two years. ideeastream’s Economics Reporter Tasha Flournoy has more on the economic news.

Akron Police To Merge?
Originally aired Friday, April 4, 2008
The idea of a metropolitan police department is on the table again, but this time, it's Akron’s police department. and the summit county sheriff's department that will at least temporarily join forces. ideastream’s Rick Jackson reports.

John Rauh Speaks At City Club
Originally aired Friday, April 4, 2008
The way Americans elect our leaders is not working - and needs to be fixed. Or so says a man who is espousing a new plan to pay for election campaigns. Ideastream's Rick Jackson reports.

Demand for Emergency Food Help Rising
Originally aired Monday, April 7, 2008
Rising food prices have some worried about how many Americans will turn to government and private aid to fill their cupboards. In Ohio, food pantries and hunger centers are reporting record turnout. The Buckeye state has lost more than 200 thousand manufacturing jobs in the past decade and has been hard hit by the foreclosure crisis. ideastream's Mhari Saito reports.

Proposed Phone Service Frees Up 9-1-1
Originally aired Tuesday, April 8, 2008
The creation of the 9-1-1 emergency phone system forty years ago provided millions of Americans with instant access to public safety services. But, it also attracted many people with non-emergency questions, slowing down the lines. In response, the 3-1-1 service was created, more recently. Over sixty-five U.S. Cities, including Akron and Columbus, have some form of 3-1-1, and Cleveland is about to get on board. Ideastream®'s David C. Barnett has more.

Stop-gap for Skilled Foreign Students
Originally aired Tuesday, April 8, 2008
A stalemate in Congress has led to a stop-gap solution to a thorny immigration issue. Ideastream®'s David C. Barnett reports on the local reaction to a plan that allows highly skilled foreign students to remain in the U.S. --- for now.

The Comeback of the Cuyahoga
Originally aired Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Four decades ago, one event changed how much of the nation viewed environmental issues. The Cuyahoga River caught fire. Now a filmmaker is releasing a documentary on the burning river and how it became a catalyst for change. Here's more from The Environment Report's Julie Grant.

Income Gap Widens between Rich and Poor Ohioans
Originally aired Wednesday, April 9, 2008
A new study on state income disparity shows the gap between Ohio's rich and poor is wider than ever. ideastream reporter Kymberli Hagelberg has details.

Foreclosure Crisis: Who’s to Blame? Part 1
Originally aired Wednesday, April 9, 2008
There is little controversy that the rise in foreclosures in this country is a crisis, but there is debate over who or what is to blame. ideastream’s Eric Wellman spoke with Frank Ford, a Cleveland attorney who works in community development issues, who says much of the blame is misguided.

Grendell Offers Compromise on Great Lakes Compact
Originally aired Wednesday, April 9, 2008
The Governor of Wisconsin Wednesday announced his state will ratify a major regional agreement to ban large scale diversions from the Great Lakes. That compact has already been ratified by four other Great Lakes states and two Canadian provinces. However, it has met a formidable stumbling block in Ohio in opposition led by State Senator Tim Grendell. As ideastream's Dan Moulthrop explains, the Chesterland area senator appears ready to end his years of opposition the diversion ban.

Foreclosure Crisis Hits Outer Ring Suburbs
Originally aired Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Up until recently, Cleveland's foreclosure crisis has been centered in the city and its neighboring suburbs. Now housing counselors say the fastest growing group of borrowers looking to get foreclosure help are from the outer ring suburbs. Ideastream's Mhari Saito reports.

Foreclosure Crisis: Who’s to Blame? Part 2
Originally aired Thursday, April 10, 2008
Yesterday on Morning Edition we got one perspective on who's to blame for the mortgage crisis. ideastream®'s Eric Wellman spoke with Attorney Frank Ford, who is a senior vice president at Neighborhood Progress Incorporated, a Cleveland non-profit. Ford made the case that the crisis is largely the fault of irresponsible lenders, not borrowers. Earlier this week nine lenders signed a non binding pact where they essentially agreed to do more to work with homeowners struggling to pay their mortgages. In part 2 of his conversation with Eric, Ford said he thinks that's a good start.

21st Century Schools Preview
Originally aired Friday, April 11, 2008
In international tests of high school students the United States ranks near the bottom of industrialized countries when it comes to math and science. We're way behind Canada, barely ahead of the Slovak Republic. The math/science gap is affecting the U.S. economy today and will do so even more in the years to come unless radical changes are made in the way we educate our young people. Starting Monday, 90.3 WCPN and WVIZ/PBS will have extensive coverage of this learning gap and how we need to transform today's schools into 21st Century Schools. ideastream®'s David C. Barnett has this preview.

Vatican Collection Coming to Northeast Ohio
Originally aired Friday, April 11, 2008
Some of the most precious pieces of Catholic history are coming to Northeast Ohio, next month. Ideastream®'s David C. Barnett reports that the Western Reserve Historical Society is playing host to a collection of art and objects from the Vatican.

Gas Wells Proliferate in Northeast Ohio
Originally aired Friday, April 11, 2008
In the last decade natural gas wells have been popping up all over in the eastern suburbs of Cleveland. Drilling for gas has become a popular revenue producer for private residents and commercial property owners. Local governments are also getting in on the action - with some resistance from citizens. But, as ideastream's Rick Jackson reports, those who might try to intervene have little recourse.

Qualified Workers Wanted - The Jobs/Skills Mismatch
Originally aired Monday, April 14, 2008
Many local employers say they have plenty of job vacancies. But the trouble is they can't find employees with the skills to fill them. Many applicants don't have the educational background they need in math and science for post high school training. Ideastream®'s David C. Barnett examines this disconnect between supply and demand.

Paying College Bills Tough for Middle Class
Originally aired Monday, April 14, 2008
In its year-long investigation of middle class, The Akron Beacon Journal Sunday reported on the difficulty many are having in affording college -- even at the state universities. The paper profiled Cory Schler and Jennifer Samardak, both are very concerned about the cost of an education that was once considered the birthright of working class Ohio families. ideastream's Kymberli Hagelberg reports.

GM Workers At Risk of Layoff
Originally aired Monday, April 14, 2008
An auto workers’ strike at parts manufacturer American Axle threatens to send workers at GM’s Lordstown complex in Northeast Ohio home on layoff. Ideastream’s Bill Rice reports.

Metro School Does Things its Own Way
Originally aired Monday, April 14, 2008
On television, on radio, and online, ideastream is spending this week looking at what our kids need to learn to be competitive in the global economy. We’re calling the series, "21st Century Schools." What we’re hearing is that students not only need learn a lot more math and science, they need to learn how to think, to problem solve, to innovate, to communicate and to collaborate A new public high school in Columbus is leading the way in creating that kind of education. The Metro School is a small school--just 200 students so far--created in a partnership among the Ohio State University, Battelle, and 16 Franklin County school districts. Ideastream’s Dan Bobkoff visited Metro to see what makes it so different.

More Tax Filers Than Normal Expected Today
Originally aired Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Federal officials say that electronic filing has streamlined the income tax return process considerably, in recent years. Still, a bigger-than-usual crowd of last-minute tax filers is anticipated at area post offices today. Ideastream®'s David C. Barnett explains.

Cycling Strength In Numbers
Originally aired Tuesday, April 15, 2008
With gas prices sky rocketing, more and more people are turning to alternative transportation, such as bicycling, for their commute to and from work. In order to promote this growing trend, the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency --- or NOACA --- has started a new service that matches riders and routes. Ideastream®'s David C. Barnett has more on the Ohio Bike Buddies program.

Homeless School Children on Rise
Originally aired Tuesday, April 15, 2008
School districts in some of Ohio's largest cities are reporting a rise in the number of homeless students this year. District officials point to a tougher economy and foreclosures, especially of rental properties. ideastream's Mhari Saito reports.

Northeast Ohio Catholics Await Pope’s Arrival
Originally aired Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Pope Benedict XVI is due to arrive at Andrews Airforce Base outside Washington later today, for a six day visit. While his itinerary includes the cities of Washington and New York, no doubt Catholics across the country will be following the trip. Ideastream's Eric Wellman spoke with Joseph Kelly, a professor of Religious Studies at John Carroll University.

Popular Coach Mentors at All-boys School
Originally aired Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Yesterday in our look at 21st Century Schools, we heard about plans for a new science, technology and engineering middle school in Akron. Farther north, the Cleveland Metropolitan School District has launched five single gender schools in hopes of getting better academic performance. The most watched of these schools is Ted Ginn Academy. The all-male school for ninth and 10th graders is named for the Glenville High School coach who has guided many young men to winning futures in sports and college. ideastream's Kymberli Hagelberg has this profile.

Case Western Reserve Prof Sees Students Disengaged
Originally aired Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Author and journalism professor Ted Gup says his students know precious little about history and current events, and that today's information and communication technology may be part of the problem.

Great Lakes Clean-up Could Lead to Big Economic Boon
Originally aired Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Cleveland would stand to gain billions in economic development if a proposed clean up of the Great Lakes went ahead. That's according to a new analysis from the Brookings Institution. Ideastream's Dan Bobkoff has more.

Will Paying Teachers Six Figures Help Students?
Originally aired Thursday, April 17, 2008
If you've been listening to our series 21st Century Schools this week, you've probably heard about a lot of trends and ideas that are supposed to turn around American education. Some schools are focusing on entrepreneurship, others science and math, for instance. Well, the founder of a new charter school opening up next year in New York believes the answer is much simpler: hire great teachers and then pay them a whole lot of money. ideastream's Dan Bobkoff explains.

Strickland Gives Timeline On Public School Funding Reform Efforts
Originally aired Thursday, April 17, 2008
Any major reform of public school funding won’t happen till next year…At least not at Governor Ted Strickland’s urging. In an address to the Ohio Federation of Teachers convention in Cleveland today, Strickland laid out more of his education goals his education goals and his timetable for promoting them. Ideastream's Tasha Flournoy has the story.

Lorain to Track Worker Vehicles with GPS
Originally aired Friday, April 18, 2008
If you're a city worker in Lorain, get ready to be tracked...maybe. The mayor wants to attach global positioning systems to all city vehicles. ideastream's Dan Bobkoff has more.

The New Dance Between Employer and Job Seeker
Originally aired Monday, April 21, 2008
For the past week we've been examining education gaps for students in Northeast Ohio, especially in math and science, that reduce their competitiveness in the global economy. Today in our series… 21st Century Schools…we spend some time with workers already out of school who are trying to get a job or keep a job in an environment where knowledge and skills are more important than ever. ideastream®'s David C. Barnett visited a local career fair to observe the delicate dance between employer and job seeker.

National City’s Future: ‘Vanilla,’ says Raskind
Originally aired Monday, April 21, 2008
The local and national business worlds have been abuzz Monday with news that National City Corporation has made a seven billion dollar deal led by private equity group Corsair. Analysts say it's not a perfect deal and still leaves shareholders exposed to the risk of the 25 billion dollars in risky loans. ideastream's Dan Moulthrop spoke with National City CEO Peter Raskind.

The Cuyahoga’s Upstream Clean-Up
Originally aired Tuesday, April 22, 2008
In the 1960s, the infamous Cuyahoga River fire burned the river --- and the city of Cleveland --- into the national consciousness as poster children for the ravages of pollution. A new documentary debuting tonight on many PBS stations explores how a group of environmental watchdogs shepherded the clean-up of Northeast Ohio’s “crooked river”. But, ideastream®'s David C. Barnett reports that there’s still a lot more work to do.

National City Bank Picks Its Suitor
Originally aired Tuesday, April 22, 2008
INTRO: National City Corporation is now facing its future, after getting a 7 billion dollar bailout from a private investment group. Ideastream®'s David C. Barnett has more.

Reducing Your Carbon Footprint
Originally aired Tuesday, April 22, 2008
On this Earth Day, ideastream®’s Eric Wellman was appalled to learn that he emits 25,000 pounds of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere every year. He sat down with an expert on climate change to learn about ways to reduce his carbon footprint.

National City Gets Infusion of Cash
Originally aired Tuesday, April 22, 2008
After weeks of uncertainty, National City Corporation has found what it's looking for -- a much needed injection of cash. 7 billion dollars to be precise. The New York based private equity firm Corsair Capital is taking the lead, putting up nearly a billion dollars. A handful of smaller investors are filling in the rest. For more on what this news means for the company, its investors and the community, ideastream®'s Eric Wellman spoke with Mark Dodosh, an Editor at Crain's Cleveland Business.

Cleveland Joins United Nations Compact
Originally aired Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson celebrated Earth Day Tuesday by signing a United Nations agreement for to improve the environment. Ideastream's Kymberli Hagelberg has details.

Students Want to Carry Guns on Campus
Originally aired Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Students who want to carry guns on campus will be protesting at Ohio colleges this week. ideastream's Kymberli Hagelberg has this report.

Cleveland Gets Big Grant for Healthcare Jobs
Originally aired Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Northeast Ohio has been trying to cope with an increasing shortage of healthcare workers for some years. Now the region is getting a fresh infusion of money to bolster those efforts. ideastream’s Dan Bobkoff has more.

County Airport Runway Expansion Tabled
Originally aired Thursday, April 24, 2008
Cuyahoga County's commissioners Thursday tabled a proposal to extend the runway at it's eastern suburban airport after hearing impassioned objections at their weekly public meeting. Ideastream's Bill Rice reports.

Cleveland Schools Get Good Marks from Study
Originally aired Friday, April 25, 2008
Thirteen Cleveland schools got high marks recently in a study by a national education consulting group. The $200,000 dollar study was funded jointly by the Cleveland and Gund Foundations, and focused on schools in economically challenged areas. ideastream's Kymberli Hagelberg spent the day at Joseph Landis elementary and middle school to see firsthand what makes that school so special.

Debunking Myths About Arthritis
Originally aired Monday, April 28, 2008
The Arthritis Foundation has selected Beachwood as one of 11 communities across the country where it will hold townhall-style meetings about the disease. A big part of the discussion will focus on doctor/patient communication and how better communication can lead to better treatment. Doctor Gaylee McCracken spoke with ideastream®'s Eric Wellman about arthritis myths.

College Book Costs Examined in Columbus
Originally aired Monday, April 28, 2008
Educators will meet in Columbus Tuesday to find ways to reduce the cost of college textbooks. The Ohio Board of Regents symposium will include a presentation from Baldwin Wallace College that proposes to eliminate the need for some print books altogether. ideastream's Kymberli Hagelberg has details.

What’s It Like To Get Fired?
Originally aired Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Lots of companies across Northeast Ohio are reevaluating their business goals as they struggle their finances. Sherwin Williams warned last month that an unspecified number of layoffs are likely in light of the housing slump. And, Mentor-based Steris Corp, announced plans to cut jobs to save about 30 million dollars a year. The impending job losses could impact thousands of workers, whose voices are almost never heard during staff cutbacks and downsizing. ideastream’s Tasha Flournoy spoke with attorneys, workers and managers to find out what the termination, the firing experience is like.

Cleveland Officials Propose New Economic Development Programs
Originally aired Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Cleveland city officials are craving out new ways to boost the city’s economic development programs. At a council committee meeting today, officials rolled out a proposal that give better incentives for current and prospective business owners to build and work in the city. ideastream’s Economics Reporter Tasha Flournoy has more on the city’s plans.

Rocker Joe Walsh Funds Performance Scholarship
Originally aired Wednesday, April 30, 2008
A Northeast Ohio musical adopted son is looking to pay back the city and school that helped launch his professional career. ideastream®'s David C. Barnett reports that a new performance scholarship at Kent State University is being funded by rock guitarist Joe Walsh.

Liquid Crystals Give Horticulture a High-Tech Boost at Cleveland Botanical Gardens
Originally aired Wednesday, April 30, 2008
For most backyard gardeners, a greenhouse is a fairly low-tech investment. A wooden frame and some plastic sheets or panels are sufficient to help tropical or frost sensitive plants survive the long mid-west winters. But for commercial growers, mere survival isn’t enough. They must produce healthy and thriving plants year-round and that means big heating bills. In Cleveland, scientists are pioneering a high-tech method for bringing those bills down. ideastream®'s Gretchen Cuda reports.