http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/ ideastream - Community News (c) Copyright 2008 ideastream - For Personal Use Only http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/12071 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/12071#When:11:00:00Z On Fridays we typically turn our attention to the regional economy. Today we begin broadening this segment to bring you a diverse set of conversations with local business executives, financial analysts and developers, among others. Ideastream Executive Editor David Molpus kicks off our discussions with Morton Smith, a semi-retired Cleveland businessman who has an idea about how to attract new residents to the region. Fri, 16 May 2008 11:00:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/12082 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/12082#When:07:53:00Z Tomorrow night, the Cleveland Artists Foundation will pay tribute to a beloved Northeast Ohio couple who have been widely celebrated for their explorations of light, color and form. ideastream®'s David C. Barnett examines the parallel paths and singular quest of Barbara and Julian Stanczak. Fri, 16 May 2008 07:53:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/12037 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/12037#When:07:06:00Z The blight of abandoned houses due to the mortgage crisis has prompted lawmakers to speed-up the foreclosure process so the vacant properties can be condemned and torn down. But, a new group of Clevelanders wants to save some of these homes from the wrecking ball and re-cycle them. ideastream®'s David C. Barnett has more on a new project that aims to help rebuild Cleveland by taking it apart, piece by piece. Wed, 14 May 2008 07:06:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/soi/12027 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/soi/12027#When:12:00:01Z Scientists say there are about 185 invasive species living in the Great Lakes, and a new one arrives every eight months. The US Congress now has a plan to fight them. There are a couple of hurdles, though--the Senate and a threatened presidential veto. On the Sound of Ideas, we'll talk about the feasibility of fighting invasive species by changing basic shipping practices. And we'll find out if it's going to be enough to head off any future invaders...such as killer shrimp. You're invited to join us Tuesday morning at 9 o'clock. Image: Fisherman holds Asian carp. Tue, 13 May 2008 12:00:01 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/12029 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/12029#When:08:31:00Z Preparations are being made this week for a red cloud full of video cameras that is due to float over downtown Cleveland, this summer. No, it's not the latest scheme to catch speeding motorists, but rather a high-flying art installation involving 100 weather balloons. It's one of many exhibits on display at this year's Ingenuity Fest --- an annual event that may finally be finding its feet. ideastream®'s David C. Barnett has more. Tue, 13 May 2008 08:31:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/12028 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/12028#When:08:23:00Z Opening statements are due this week in a legal case that has brought the accounting practices of the Cleveland Catholic Diocese under scrutiny. ideastream®'s David C. Barnett has more on the trial of former Chief Financial Officer Joseph Smith. Tue, 13 May 2008 08:23:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/12088 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/12088#When:14:36:00Z Doctor Charles Emerman, Associate Chief of Staff at MetroHealth Medical Center speaks with ideastream®'s Eric Wellman about choosing a doctor and getting the most out of the appointment. Mon, 12 May 2008 14:36:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/soi/11989 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/soi/11989#When:14:00:00Z Count up the number of things in your life that run on batteries. Your cordless phone, your cell phone, your bluetooth headset.... You get the idea, but most of us don't really know much about how batteries work -- nor do we appreciate how batteries have evolved to make today's portable electronic life possible. As part of our ongoing coverage of Cleveland's Science Cafe, we'll talk to a chemist and a consultant about the powerful science of batteries and what the next generation of batteries will be able to do. Mon, 12 May 2008 14:00:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/12013 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/12013#When:13:00:00Z How did YOU --or the mother in your life -- celebrate Mother’s Day this year? Breakfast in bed? Flowers? Chocolate? Yesterday a number of Cleveland area kids celebrated their moms by running a 1-mile race to support local breast cancer research. ideastream’s Gretchen Cuda has more. Mon, 12 May 2008 13:00:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/soi/11988 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/soi/11988#When:14:00:01Z Jeff Yeager is the author of The Ultimate Cheapskate's Road Map to True Riches: A Practical (and Fun) Guide to Enjoying Life More by Spending Less. Yeager is from rural Ohio and has had a long career in the non-profit world. He has always been frugal with money -- so much so that he found he could retire at 46 -- or as he calls it, become "selfishly employed." He is now bicycling around the country, staying with friends and volunteering. Friday morning at 9, Regina Brett interviews the self-styled Titan of Tightwads about his life and his guiding philosophy: whatever it is, it can always be cheaper. Fri, 09 May 2008 14:00:01 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/soi/11967 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/soi/11967#When:14:00:01Z In the news this week, embattled Cleveland councilman Joe Santiago faces renewed scrutiny--there's no recall this time, just an FBI investigation. Meanwhile, in Columbus, the battle over payday loans heats up and members of the General Assembly gear up for a possible impeachment proceeding targeting the Attorney General. Also, there's fallout from charges of excessive patronage appointments at the Cuyahoga County Recorders office. We'll talk about those stories and others on the reporters' roundtable. Join us Thursday morning at 9 o'clock. Thu, 08 May 2008 14:00:01 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/11976 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/11976#When:09:24:00Z Ohio power plants pump over a hundred million tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere each year, according to federal estimates. With the approach of tighter restrictions on greenhouse gas emissions, a multi-million-dollar research project is looking to take the CO2 out of the air and bury it in the ground. ideastream®'s David C. Barnett has more. Thu, 08 May 2008 09:24:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/11975 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/11975#When:09:14:01Z Over a thousand retired workers in Lorain County will be getting a cut in their pension checks because of an accounting blunder by the federal agency handling benefits for the region's bankrupt steel plants. Ideastream®'s David C. Barnett explains. Thu, 08 May 2008 09:14:01 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/soi/11956 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/soi/11956#When:14:00:01Z So, it has been about a year since Ohio's smoking ban went into effect. Some restaurant and bar owners are still complaining about the ban's negative impact on business. If you talk to public health officials, however, they say the economic impact of a healthier workforce make the ban a major victory. The smoking ban's success is up for debate on the Sound of Ideas, and we'll talk about just how far public health legislation might go...Twinkie tax, anyone? Join us, Wednesday morning at 9 o'clock. Wed, 07 May 2008 14:00:01 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/11959 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/11959#When:06:21:00Z One of the legacies of Northeast Ohio's rust belt economy is dozens of empty factory and warehouse buildings. But, in recent years, a different sort of workforce has been quietly moving into these abandoned structures --- artists --- with the potential to revitalize neighborhoods once left for dead. A conference in Cleveland, next week, will explore the idea of turning the rust belt into an artist belt. ideastream®'s David C. Barnett has more on a call-in discussion that took place yesterday on 90.3's Around Noon. Wed, 07 May 2008 06:21:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/11957 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/11957#When:20:19:00Z One side note in the fallout from the Marc Dann scandal: Case Western Reserve University’s law school had to scramble to get a new commencement speaker. ideastream’s Dan Bobkoff has that story. Tue, 06 May 2008 20:19:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/soi/11903 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/soi/11903#When:19:46:00Z Few crimes are more traumatic than rape. The scars run deep and victims rarely want to talk about it publicly. So, when one does, it commands our attention. Reporter Joanna Connors was sexually assaulted on a Cleveland college campus 23 years ago. It haunted her until she began to retrace the life of the rapist and face the inner conflicts the assault produced in her own life. Read about it in Sunday's Plain Dealer and then join the conversation with the author this morning at 9:00. Mon, 05 May 2008 19:46:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/11880 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/11880#When:13:45:00Z Oberlin is a well-regarded college known for its music conservatory and progressive politics. And, to highlight that, for about 9 years, the school used the tagline: "Think one person can change the world? So do we." Well, after a good run, the college decided it was time for something a little more bold and provocative. They hired an outside consultant for a few hundred grand and came up with this new slogan: “We are Oberlin. Fearless.” And, as ideastream's Dan Bobkoff reports, it didn’t go as well as planned. Thu, 01 May 2008 13:45:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/11882 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/11882#When:10:00:00Z A highly regarded violin master and educator has been appointed president of the Cleveland Institute of Music. Joel Smirnoff, who chairs the violin department at The Julliard School and leads the Julliard String Quartet, replaces long-standing leader David Cerone. ideastream®'s David C. Barnett reports the new president got a warm Cleveland welcome yesterday. Thu, 01 May 2008 10:00:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/11874 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/11874#When:05:55:01Z 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. Wed, 30 Apr 2008 05:55:01 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/soi/11863 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/soi/11863#When:14:00:00Z That big tax rebate will be in the mail soon and it's going to be decision time. Save it or spend it? If so, on what? Questions like that make these economically taxing times...especially as fuel prices head north and housing values head south. On The Sound of Ideas, we'll talk with expert financial planners about the best ways to stay afloat, protect our nest-egg, and keep our sanity in challenging times. Join us at 9:00 Tuesday morning on 90.3. Tue, 29 Apr 2008 14:00:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/soi/11855 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/soi/11855#When:14:00:00Z Say goodbye to snow, ghosts and washed out color. The digital TV revolution is here. And for some of us, the biggest adjustment is yet to come. If you have cable, you're probably getting digital TV now. However, the 21 million American households who still use rabbit ears will need a converter box. Confusing? It doesn't have to be. Mon, 28 Apr 2008 14:00:00 -0400 http://www.wviz.org/index.php/WVIZ/state_of_ohio/11854 http://www.wviz.org/index.php/WVIZ/state_of_ohio/11854#When:20:03:00Z The bill to reshape the way power is bought and sold in Ohio charges through the House and Senate, and is on its way to the governor. Rep. Matthew Barrett (D-Amherst) resigns after a flap over the appearance of the image of a topless woman during a presentation he made to high school students in October. Attorney General Marc Dann has asked for an audit of the department overseen by an aide who is accused of sexual harassment by two 26-year-old subordinates. And Columbus police say they won’t file charges against that aide, Anthony Gutierrez, saying an interview with one of his accusers did not yield enough evidence. A deal that’s supposed to prevent Great Lakes water from being diverted to other regions got dammed up in the Ohio legislature last session. Sen. Tim Grendell (R-Chesterland) raised concerns about the Great Lakes Compact, but says he has a solution. He discusses it with Rep. Matt Dolan (R-Novelty), who sponsored the compact both times it went through the House. Photojournalism captures brilliant and fleeting moments in time, bringing to the world images that amuse and sadden, enlighten and frighten. Some of the best news photographs ever published are now on display at the Ohio Historical Society, in a traveling show called “Capture the Moment – the Pulitzer Prize Photographs.” Fri, 25 Apr 2008 20:03:00 -0400 http://www.wviz.org/index.php/WVIZ/feagler/11814 http://www.wviz.org/index.php/WVIZ/feagler/11814#When:05:00:00Z Roundtable: Connie Schultz, columnist, The Plain Dealer; Mark Naymik, reporter, The Plain Dealer; Jay Miller, reporter, Crain’s Cleveland Business. National City Corp: An investors’ group led by Corsair Capital this week agreed to pump $7-billion in cash into the troubled Cleveland bank. The agreement staved off the potential merger of National City with other banks. Merger could have brought about the loss of a major downtown Cleveland company, large-scale layoffs, or both. National City is expected to lose up to $2-billion this year, a result of the mortgage meltdown and tightening credit markets. Pennsylvania Primary: This week’s Pennsylvania primary moved the Democrats closer to this summer’s national convention, but that’s about it. It did little to resolve who the nominee might be. Senator Hillary Clinton won the popular vote and the majority of the Keystone State delegates. But Senator Barack Obama held onto the overall delegate lead and retains a large edge in fund-raising. Next up: Indiana and North Carolina on May 6. Keen on Keno: The Strickland administration is quietly maneuvering to clear the way for a new form of gambling to be targeted at Ohio taverns. Keno, a form of lottery with drawings several times a day, would raise a projected $73 million to help plug a hole in the state budget. This week, the Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review okayed the keno plan. Legislation aimed at stopping the new game has apparently stalled in Columbus. Short Shrift for Equal Pay: The U.S. Senate failed to pass a measure that would have bypassed a recent Supreme Court ruling upholding a tight time limit on equal pay complaints. The high court confirmed a law that says employees have 180 days from the issuance of the first paycheck to file legal complaints about wage discrimination. The new law, that would have scrapped the time limit, was named after Lilly Ledbetter, a former Alabama Goodyear worker who sued the tire maker ten years ago and won only to have case overturned on appeal. Fri, 25 Apr 2008 05:00:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/11599 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/11599#When:07:48:00Z 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. Tue, 22 Apr 2008 07:48:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/11598 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/11598#When:07:31:01Z 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. Tue, 22 Apr 2008 07:31:01 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/soi/10789 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/soi/10789#When:14:00:01Z You've heard it before, that eighty percent of life is showing up? How about showing up to two thousand six hundred and thirty two games in a row? Woody Allen, meet Cal Ripken, Jr. Major League Baseball's Iron Man has a new book about his life and explaining his unparallelled success. Here's a hint: it's about perseverance. We'll chat with Cal Ripken about his life and the lessons we all can learn from it. Get in the Game, Monday morning at 9 o'clock. Mon, 21 Apr 2008 14:00:01 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/11461 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/11461#When:10:00:00Z 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. Mon, 21 Apr 2008 10:00:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/soi/11291 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/soi/11291#When:15:40:00Z On April 22, Earth Day, WVIZ premiers The Return of the Cuyahoga, the new film documenting the river's transformation from the burning waterway of recent history to the main artery of one of the most visited National Parks in the United States. On our program, we'll preview the documentary, talk about how clean the Crooked River has become, and hear about the remediation work that remains to be done. Thu, 17 Apr 2008 15:40:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/soi/11290 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/soi/11290#When:15:37:01Z In August, roughly than ten percent of the students are proficient in math and reading. By April, that's more like 70 percent. Welcome to Entrepreneurship Prep. As one student tells it, "At my old school you didn't have to do homework. I'd say my dog ate it, My pig ran over it. I didn't do homework." Not so at E-Prep in Cleveland's Glenville neighborhood. The school teaches the same children as the rest of the city schools but gets remarkably different results. As part of our coverage of 21st Century Schools, we'll find out how. Join us tomorrow morning for the Sound of Ideas. That's at 9 o'clock on 90.3. Wed, 16 Apr 2008 15:37:01 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/soi/11280 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/soi/11280#When:14:00:01Z It is becoming common knowledge that American students are falling behind in science and math. Now, Akron Public Schools have a plan to turn that around. The Beacon Journal profiles Akron's future math and science middle school Monday. It's the product of a collaboration between the district and the National Inventors' Hall of Fame. Tuesday on the Sound of Ideas, we'll talk about out how this new STEM school plans to prepare and engage the next generation of engineers. Join us at 9 a.m on 90.3. Tue, 15 Apr 2008 14:00:01 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/11287 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/11287#When:05:21:00Z 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. Tue, 15 Apr 2008 05:21:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/11286 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/11286#When:05:04:01Z 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. Tue, 15 Apr 2008 05:04:01 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/11279 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/11279#When:06:18:00Z 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. Mon, 14 Apr 2008 06:18:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/11268 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/11268#When:07:41:00Z 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. Fri, 11 Apr 2008 07:41:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/soi/10788 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/soi/10788#When:14:00:00Z Almost a year and a half ago, we had a conversation on SOI wondering if Ohio might be the first state to sign on to the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact. Well, since then, four states have ratified it, as has the Ohio House. And it's in the Ohio Senate where the agreement has stalled, mostly due to the efforts of Chesterland Senator Tim Grendell. He says he wants to add some language to protect Ohioans' private property. The Senator and a few others will join us to help us understand exactly where we are and where we might be headed. Wed, 09 Apr 2008 14:00:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/10796 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/10796#When:05:38:00Z 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. Tue, 08 Apr 2008 05:38:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/10795 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/10795#When:05:25:00Z 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. Tue, 08 Apr 2008 05:25:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/soi/10786 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/soi/10786#When:14:00:00Z Just picture this: An afternoon downtown, in and out of furniture stores and other design shops, lunch at a nice restaurant. Lots of pedestrians. Imagine that: Euclid Avenue. That's right, you heard me. The Euclid Corridor project is coming along, and local boosters say the time is perfect for turning downtown around. It can't be done? Well, commercial real estate values have already bounced back in midtown. Could downtown be next? We'll find out, Monday morning on at 9 o'clock. Mon, 07 Apr 2008 14:00:00 -0400