http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/topic_politics/ ideastream - Politics News (c) Copyright 2009 ideastream - For Personal Use Only http://www.wviz.org/index.php/WVIZ/feagler/26877 http://www.wviz.org/index.php/WVIZ/feagler/26877#When:17:50:00Z Jim Rokakis, Cuyahoga County Treasurer; Anthony Brancatelli, Cleveland City Council member, Ward 12. Whether the foreclosure crisis has bottomed out nationwide is a moot question in greater Cleveland where the crisis is very much alive. Cuyahoga County still averages 1200 foreclosures each month. As a result, neighborhoods sink further into decline as abandoned homes proliferate, stripped by thieves of copper and other materials of value. Rokakis and Brancatelli have long waged visible battles against the effect of the crisis. Rokakis was the driving force behind the county’s foreclosure prevention program and is in the process of setting up a county land bank with the aim of returning foreclosed properties to productive use. Brancatelli’s Slavic Village Ward was the area that felt the greatest impact of the foreclosure crisis. Brancatelli has championed legislation making it easier for the city to maintain abandoned properties and assist residents seeking to avoid foreclosure. They’ll talk with Mr. Feagler about their plans for combating the crisis in the future and about the prospects for a turnaround. Finally, we meet local artist Amy Casey, winner of the Cleveland Arts Prize as the year’s most promising emerging artist. Casey, a painter, uses the foreclosure crisis as her motif and her palette. Fri, 03 Jul 2009 17:50:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/soi/26841 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/soi/26841#When:13:00:00Z The National Anthem is a song we're all supposed to know and be able to sing, but as it happens most Americans struggle earnestly to hit the right notes and many can't remember the words. One master of the Star Spangled Banner though is Northeast Ohio's own - Rocco Scotti. For some 20 years he sang it before nearly every Indian's game and performed it on many other stages. On the next Sound of Ideas, we’ll talk with Rocco about the joys and challenges of singing the National Anthem. How does he hit his trademark high G? What does he think of some of the more non-traditional renditions? Join us for Rocco Scotti followed by a July 4th special from The Capitol Steps on SOI at 9 on 90.3. Fri, 03 Jul 2009 13:00:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26879 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26879#When:21:11:00Z Cuyahoga County's Republican leadership today presented a plan for the ouster of embattled Commissioner Jimmy DiMora. ideastream®'s Rick Jackson prepared this report. Thu, 02 Jul 2009 21:11:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26878 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26878#When:19:46:00Z If you own property in Cuyahoga, Lake, Lorain, or Stark counties, chances are you’ve gotten a letter in the mail from the county telling you how much the auditor thinks your property is worth. Needless to say, you might not agree with the assessment. It’s time for this week’s Upside/Downside. These revaluations are coming out in a year that property values have taken a sharp dip, and the assessments reflect that, but you still might think it’s too high. ideastream®’s Dan Bobkoff talks to morning host Eric Wellman to explain that and the system that exists to challenge county property valuations. Thu, 02 Jul 2009 19:46:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/soi/26857 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/soi/26857#When:13:00:00Z Cuyahoga County Commissioner Jimmy Dimora breaks a year-long silence on the federal corruption probe. He claims he's the victim of joint GOP-Plain Dealer conspiracy. His calls for a federal investigation into that conspiracy appear to have fallen on deaf ears. Thursday morning at 9, join the reporters roundtable for analysis of this new development, the state budget standoff, and the four candidates vying to unseat Cleveland mayor Frank Jackson. Thu, 02 Jul 2009 13:00:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26870 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26870#When:12:49:00Z The director of the Ohio Lottery admits he hasn't been consulted about the plan to bring slot machines to Ohio's seven racetracks, even though he would oversee those machines. Statehouse correspondent Karen Kasler reports. Thu, 02 Jul 2009 12:49:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26869 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26869#When:12:47:00Z Ohio is now operating on a one week temporary budget...and another one week budget is in the works in case state leaders don't pass a permanent budget by Tuesday. The temporary budget is meant to allow agencies to continue to operate while budget negotiations continue. But as Ohio Public Radio's Jo Ingles reports, some groups are finding it's hard to get by under unsure circumstances. Thu, 02 Jul 2009 12:47:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26866 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26866#When:23:06:00Z The deadlock over a new two year state budget for Ohio continues at the capitol. The governor and legislative leaders say they have already agreed on filling most of a projected 3.2 billion dollar shortfall with spending cuts, but they disagree over using revenues from gambling to fill the rest of the money hole. Statehouse correspondent Bill Cohen reports there are now a few wrinkles in the stand-off. Wed, 01 Jul 2009 23:06:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26865 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26865#When:22:51:00Z With the state struggling to plug a huge budget shortfall, those working to advance Northeast Ohio's biomedical industry are bracing for a disappointing rollback of state stimulus dollars. ideastream®'s Bill rice reports. Wed, 01 Jul 2009 22:51:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26864 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26864#When:22:25:00Z The Ohio Supreme Court says parents who are suing over their underage daughter's abortion are not entitled to see confidential medical records maintained by the clinic that performed the procedure. Statehouse correspondent Karen Kasler has the story. Wed, 01 Jul 2009 22:25:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26863 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26863#When:21:48:00Z The U.S. Secretary of Commerce was in town July first, promoting a new federal program to improve internet service in under-served rural areas and urban centers too - like Cleveland. ideastream®'s Rick Jackson reports. Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:48:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/soi/26825 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/soi/26825#When:13:00:00Z Homeowners in parts of NE Ohio have begun receiving re-valuation notices on their houses, and not surprisingly, most values are being revised downward. Some homeowners may argue the new value isn't actually low enough. Understanding those assesments and challenging them can be a complicated process. And in almost every case, the potential individual property taxes savings comes at a cost to the community. Wednesday morning at 9, we'll talk about how, why and whether to negotiate a lower value for your house and what lower home values mean for our cities. Wed, 01 Jul 2009 13:00:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26826 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26826#When:09:00:00Z The Fund for Our Economic Future is offering to contribute $300,000 toward the cost of a public project. But that project must involve multiple communities working together, such the combining of police or fire services. About 65 proposals came in and the list was whittled down to nine finalists. The winner will ultimately be determined by the public which is asked to vote for their favorites. Brad Whitehead is President of the Fund For Our Economic Future. ideastream®'s Eric Wellman asked him how difficult was it to narrow the list from 65 to nine. Wed, 01 Jul 2009 09:00:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26830 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26830#When:21:37:00Z The stalemate over a new two-year state budget for Ohio continues at the capitol building in Columbus. That's why state lawmakers have just approved a one-week INTERIM budget to keep state government afloat, until a more LONG-range spending package is passed. Statehouse correspondent Bill Cohen has this update. Tue, 30 Jun 2009 21:37:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/soi/26814 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/soi/26814#When:13:00:00Z It’s well known that Cleveland has been among the hardest-hit cities in the nation by the subprime mortgage debacle but now an author says the country’s current economic crisis, the worldwide recession actually originated here. Alyssa Katz suggests that once the ball really got rolling a meltdown was inevitable. It was a storm brewing for years and, she says, the climate for it to break was just right in Cleveland. Our Lot...How Real Estate Came to Own Us Tuesday morning at 9:00 on 90.3. Tue, 30 Jun 2009 13:00:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26815 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26815#When:00:28:00Z Cuyahoga County Commissioner Jimmy Dimora will ask for a federal investigation into what he says is a Republican-orchestrated conspiracy to falsely accuse him and other democrats of corruption. Ideastream’s Bill Rice reports. Tue, 30 Jun 2009 00:28:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26807 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26807#When:13:02:00Z With one exception, House members from Northeast Ohio voted along party lines on a landmark climate change bill. Matt Laslo reports from Washington. Mon, 29 Jun 2009 13:02:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/soi/26803 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/soi/26803#When:13:00:00Z In 1996, President Bill Clinton pledged to “end welfare as we know it” by signing a law that put time limits on long-term public assistance. At first, Welfare rolls began to drop, but in the past year those numbers have started to rise again in Ohio and a majority of other states. This comes at a time when Governor Ted Strickland and state lawmakers are looking to balance the budget by trimming cash assistance to the needy. With welfare caseloads increasing what’s going to happen when the money runs out? Ohio is getting stimulus dollars to help cover the shortfall, but does that undermine the whole idea of moving people off of the public dole? What is welfare as we NOW know it anyway? And is it working? Join us for a discussion about public assistance in a time of recession, Monday morning. Mon, 29 Jun 2009 13:00:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26806 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26806#When:12:57:00Z Ohio's budget troubles are a dramatic demonstration of a simple situation - government often has more obligations in tough times, when less revenue is coming in. So how can the state avoid getting into a major financial crisis the next time? Statehouse correspondent Karen Kasler reports. Mon, 29 Jun 2009 12:57:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26805 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26805#When:12:06:00Z That makes it seem increasingly unlikely that state legislators will be able to agree on a compromise spending plan by Wednesday's deadline. Statehouse correspondent Bill Cohen reports the biggest sticking point appears to be slot machines. Mon, 29 Jun 2009 12:06:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26802 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26802#When:21:54:01Z The next election for governor is more than 16 months away, but a leading Republican candidate is already making his pitch. Former Ohio Congressman John Kasich is running on a platform of eliminating the state income tax and making Ohio more hospitable to business and innovation. Kasich spoke at the City Club Friday and ideastream®’s Dan Bobkoff has our report. Fri, 26 Jun 2009 21:54:01 -0400 http://www.wviz.org/index.php/WVIZ/feagler/26785 http://www.wviz.org/index.php/WVIZ/feagler/26785#When:17:00:00Z Newsmaker—Rob Frost, Cuyahoga County Republican Party: Frost called for the resignation of Cuyahoga County Commissioner Jimmy Dimora. Dimora’s temporary withdrawal as chairman of the county Democratic Party doesn’t go far enough, Frost said, adding Dimora should resign his elected office on the Board of Commissioners for the public good. Frost was mirrored, in a sense, by Ohio Democratic Party chairman Chris Redfern who said Dimora should resign his party chairmanship rather than take a temporary leave. Roundtable: Joan Mazzolini,reporter, The Plain Dealer; Jay Miller, government reporter, Crain’s Cleveland Business, Mark Naymik, politics reporter, The Plain Dealer. Dimora: The panel continues discussion of Commissioner Jimmy Dimora’s decision to resign his chairmanship of the Cuyahoga County Democratic Party. Akron Recall: Just 21 per cent of Akron’s registered voters cast ballots in the city’s Mayoral recall election. But overwhelmingly, they decided Mayor Don Plusquellic should continue in the office to which he’s been re-elected five times. Voters repudiated complaints about Plusquellic’s money management and sometimes-brusque manner. The recall campaign was mounted by former city council member Warner Mendenhall whose wife, Kelly, now plans to run for council. Burning River Anniversary: A spark from a passing rail car ignited a Cuyahoga River oil slick in the Flats 40 years ago this week. The river fire was not a major news story in Cleveland that day. After all, it had happened many times before. But the fire jump-started a fledgling environmental movement and led to passage a short time later of the Clean Water Act. Today, the river is no longer an industrial sewer, but it remains on the government’s list of polluted waterways. Art Museum Downer: It’s the weekend of the long-awaited opening of the Cleveland Art Museum’s new east wing (opening Saturday, June 27). But the enthusiasm for some museum-goers might be tainted by news of a Case Western Reserve University grad student taken at knifepoint from the steps of the art museum and then raped last Sunday. Police later arrested the suspected rapist. The attack brought to mind other recent high-profile and frightening incidents such as last winter’s fatal shooting in a downtown park. Only time will tell if such incidents weigh on the minds of potential visitors deciding what to do with their leisure time. Fri, 26 Jun 2009 17:00:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/soi/26783 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/soi/26783#When:14:52:01Z Should the Governor put library funding on the chopping block or state employee pensions? When layoffs are necessary is it smarter for employers to show loyalty to experienced veterans or protect young, new talent? In the search for health care for all should health care rationing also be part of the mix? There's no doubt about it -- these hard economic times are forcing people to make tough decisions. What kinds of questions should politicians, employers, and individuals ask themselves when faced with choices none of them want to make? We'll ask local leaders to share their strategies for making difficult choices. Tough Decisions in Tough Times, Friday at 9 on 90.3. Fri, 26 Jun 2009 14:52:01 -0400 http://www.wviz.org/index.php/WVIZ/state_of_ohio/26808 http://www.wviz.org/index.php/WVIZ/state_of_ohio/26808#When:13:17:00Z Gov. Ted Strickland has proposed what he’s calling a framework for plugging the 3.2 billion dollar hole in the state budget. He’s proposing cutting 2.4 billion in spending and is reversing his stance on slot machines – allowing them without an okay from voters. The two leaders who Strickland needs to get this proposal through the legislature have different opinions. The chairman of the Ohio Republican Party, Kevin DeWine, said it’s a sad display of weak leadership. But not all Republicans share that view. The $2.4 billion worth of spending cuts the governor has proposed is igniting a firestorm of protests from citizen-lobbyists across Ohio. And it’s the stories that these advocates tell that are leading a small group of Democratic lawmakers to split from Gov. Ted Strickland and calling for a tax hike to help plug Ohio's budget deficit. Meanwhile, the backers of the issue that would permit casinos to be built in Cleveland, Cincinnati, Columbus and Toledo say the governor’s change of heart on slots won’t affect their drive to the fall ballot. The developers, including the company that owns the Argosy casino in Indiana, this week filed petitions to put before voters their constitutional amendment, which they call the Ohio Jobs & Growth Plan. The state is supposed to have a budget agreed upon by a conference committee, passed by both the House and Senate and signed by the governor by July 1. And as the six lawmakers who’ve been named to the conference committee wait for the next meeting to discuss the budget, there is plenty of speculation on what deserves to stay in and what should be taken out – or put back – in the final document. Senate Minority Leader Capri Cafaro, a Democrat from Hubbard near Youngstown, and Senator Tim Grendell, a Republican from Chesterland in northeast Ohio, share their thoughts on the budget. Fri, 26 Jun 2009 13:17:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26798 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26798#When:13:01:00Z There are several new developments on the gambling front in Ohio. Statehouse correspondent Bill Cohen has the latest. Fri, 26 Jun 2009 13:01:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26797 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26797#When:12:59:01Z Lobbyists for Ohio's nursing homes are worried that more than 20 percent of facilities in the state will lose a minimum of one half million dollars over two years; if' lawmakers adopt Governor Strickland's latest budget proposal. Fri, 26 Jun 2009 12:59:01 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26796 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26796#When:12:57:00Z There are indications from leading lawmakers - including Governor Strickland - that a state budget may be in place by the deadline of June 30th. Two Senators say it will not including any sort of tax increase. Fri, 26 Jun 2009 12:57:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26793 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26793#When:03:17:00Z Cleveland State University held what amounted to an opening round of public debate Thursday over a charter proposal for Cuyahoga County that would dramatically change its leadership structure. It's crafters hope to put the measure on the November ballot for approval from voters. Ideastream's Bill Rice reports. Fri, 26 Jun 2009 03:17:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26791 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26791#When:19:31:00Z Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray is cracking down on scams offering to help homeowners avoid foreclosures. Thu, 25 Jun 2009 19:31:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/soi/26775 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/soi/26775#When:19:14:00Z Jimmy Dimora decides to give up leadership, temporarily, of the Cuyahoga County Democratic Party, but keep his day job. Dimora and the other Cuyahoga County Commisioners also have an office building they'll sell you--cheap. A developer has changed his mind about a make-over for the old Ameritrust Tower downtown, leaving the county holding the bag. State lawmakers are besieged by lobbyists hoping to dodge the budget axe. And the Governor embraces slot machine gambling. Join us for the reporters' roundtable Thursday at 9:00 a.m. on the Sound of Ideas. Thu, 25 Jun 2009 19:14:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26782 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26782#When:12:50:01Z Ohioans will likely decide this fall whether to amend the state's constitution to set up a board that will oversee standards for the state's farm industry. The Ohio house passed a plan to allow the ballot issue yesterday and the Ohio Senate is expected to do the same later today. Ohio Public Radio's Jo Ingles reports. Thu, 25 Jun 2009 12:50:01 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26779 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26779#When:22:29:00Z Governor Strickland's proposal to balance the upcoming two-year state budget with 2.4 billion dollars worth of spending cuts is igniting a firestorm of protests from citizen-lobbyists across Ohio. Statehouse correspondent Bill Cohen reports. Wed, 24 Jun 2009 22:29:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26778 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26778#When:21:36:00Z Fallout over the temporary stepping down of Cuyahoga County's Democrat Party chairman Jimmy Dimora continues, and now voices from both sides of the aisle are weighing in. Ideastream®'s Rick Jackson reports. Wed, 24 Jun 2009 21:36:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/soi/26758 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/soi/26758#When:16:41:00Z Consumers Beware: President Obama says a failed consumer protection system is at the heart of the financial crisis that has wrecked havoc on the economy. Part of the fix, he says, is to create a new Consumer Financial Protection Agency that would oversee mortgage lenders, credit card companies and even debt collectors. The agency would have the power to re-write rules on how much credit cards can charge in fees and penalties, force banks and other lenders to greatly simplify loan contracts and much more. Can can one agency possibly oversee so many institutions? How will it impact the average consumer of financial services? On the next Sound of Ideas®, it's Consumer Financial Protection. Join the conversation, Wednesday at 9 on 90.3. Wed, 24 Jun 2009 16:41:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26768 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26768#When:11:50:00Z Ohio legislators and Governor Strickland are looking at a plan to authorize slot machines at the state's seven horse racing tracks, but that's not stopping backers of another gambling expansion plan from moving ahead with their own proposal -- for casinos in big cities. Statehouse correspondent Bill Cohen reports. Wed, 24 Jun 2009 11:50:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26765 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26765#When:11:18:00Z Don Plusquellic is keeping his job. The 23-year Akron Mayor survived yesterday’s recall election. ideastream®’s Dan Bobkoff reports. Wed, 24 Jun 2009 11:18:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26764 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26764#When:21:15:00Z Debate over benefits of a possible nuclear power plant in Piketon is heating up. Experts discuss pros and cons of local investment in nuclear energy. Tue, 23 Jun 2009 21:15:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26763 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26763#When:19:28:00Z Librarians around the state are mobilizing supporters to help stop deep cuts in st ate funding that's being proposed by Governor Strickland. One rally takes place Wednesday morning at the Cleveland Public Library. As ideastream®'s Dan Bobkoff reports, this budget ax cuts deeper than most. Tue, 23 Jun 2009 19:28:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26759 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26759#When:17:14:00Z Cuyahoga County Democratic Party Chair Jimmy Dimora is at least temporarily giving up his post. ideastream®'s Eric Wellman has more. Tue, 23 Jun 2009 17:14:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26740 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26740#When:13:12:00Z Vice President Joe Biden and other top federal officials are coming to Ohio today to talk about promoting manufacturing in the 21st century. Karen Kasler of Ohio Public Radio has this preview. Tue, 23 Jun 2009 13:12:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26739 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26739#When:13:07:00Z Ohioans may soon have the opportunity to vote on a constitutional amendment that will decide how farm animals are treated. Ohio Public Radio's Jo Ingles has details. Tue, 23 Jun 2009 13:07:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26738 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26738#When:12:59:00Z Governor Ted Strickland has changed his stand and is now asking Ohio legislators to approve a plan to authorize thousands of slot machines at race tracks. As statehouse correspondent Bill Cohen reports, critics of the plan are vowing to fight it in court. Tue, 23 Jun 2009 12:59:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26641 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26641#When:22:01:00Z Millions of federal stimulus dollars are pouring into Ohio to retrain laid off workers. So, more and more of those who've been laid off are doing something they never thought they'd do again - heading back to school. But re-training is no guarantee of a job as some Ohioans are finding out. As part of our ongoing collaboration with the Plain Dealer, ideastream®'s Ida Lieszkovszky has the latest in our Help Wanted installments. Mon, 22 Jun 2009 22:01:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26676 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26676#When:13:20:00Z Voters go to the polls in Akron, Tuesday, June 23rd to vote up or down on their city's mayor. But the rubber city is certainly not alone when it comes to recall elections. Toledo, Kansas City and Portland, Oregon also have mayors in question. Raphael Sonenshein is a professor at California State University at Fullerton. He follows recall elections. Sonenshein spoke with ideastream®s' Eric Wellman about what makes Akron's case unique. Mon, 22 Jun 2009 13:20:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26673 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26673#When:11:46:00Z Summer vacation appears to be a long way off for state lawmakers. They're back for a full week of work dealing with a variety of bills, with the state budget and the governor's new proposal to allow slot machines at racetracks - at the top of the agenda. Ohio Public Radio's Karen Kasler reports. Mon, 22 Jun 2009 11:46:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26672 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26672#When:11:41:00Z There's a battle brewing over an amendment in the budget that one lawmaker says will help county boards of elections, but that the secretary of state says will cost Ohio millions in federal dollars. Statehouse correspondent Karen Kasler reports. Mon, 22 Jun 2009 11:41:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26671 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26671#When:05:25:00Z Remember the gull that deflected a fly ball and saved a Cleveland Indians game a couple weeks ago? You can thank the Cuyahoga River. Forty years ago, the Cuyahoga was little more than an industrial sewer and the butt of national jokes when it caught on fire. Today, Northeast Ohio's "crooked river" teems with fish and wildlife. ideastream®'s David C. Barnett has more on the clean-up of the Cuyahoga. Mon, 22 Jun 2009 05:25:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26670 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26670#When:23:15:00Z Voters in Akron head to the polls tomorrow to decide whether the city's mayor should be recalled after 23 years in office. Don Plusquellic's critics say he has an abusive personality and it out of touch with the people, but the mayor’s supporters say the charges are flimsy at best and that it is the recall process that is being abused. ideastream®'s Dan Bobkoff reports. Sun, 21 Jun 2009 23:15:00 -0400 http://www.wviz.org/index.php/WVIZ/state_of_ohio/26677 http://www.wviz.org/index.php/WVIZ/state_of_ohio/26677#When:13:26:00Z With a $3.2 billion hole in the upcoming budget gaping before them, state officials are trying to figure out how to patch that up in the few days that remain before the end of the fiscal year June 30. And now we know what agencies are telling the governor if their budgets are cut by as much as 30%. Those outcomes ranged from uncomfortable – for instance, marketing budgets reduced and informational mailings eliminated – to unpleasant – for example, padlocked state parks – to unthinkable – including greater risk for disease, shut-down prisons and thousands of state employees out of work. Though it’s been heralded as a new beginning for nuclear energy in this country, a lead utility company says there is no firm commitment to build a proposed nuclear power plant in Pike County that politicians are hailing as a gateway to clean energy and a source of much needed jobs and revenue in rural Appalachia. U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu commented on the Piketon plant plans while in Columbus for an event promoting the use of federal stimulus funds to weatherize homes, and announcing $106 million in federal dollars is on its way to Ohio. This economic crisis has cost many Ohioans their homes. The foreclosure tracking company RealtyTrac says Ohio logged 11,360 foreclosure filings in May, which is one in every 446 homes. That’s the 10th highest in the nation, but it’s down 8 percent from April and 13 percent from a year ago. Donna Daniels of Columbus is one of those homeowners. Daniels tells her story, and Cindy Flaherty at the Ohio Housing Finance Agency explains how other homeowners in trouble are getting help. Health problems are a leading cause of family financial stress. And that was the topic for four experts in health care reform at the Columbus Metropolitan Club this week – Bill Hayes with the Health Policy Institute, Rob Edmund with the Ohio Business Roundtable, Doug Anderson with Ohio Department of Insurance and Cathy Levine at the Health Care Action Network. The panel debated Ohio’s relative health when it comes to health insurance, and what needs to be considered when it comes to changing the current system. Fri, 19 Jun 2009 13:26:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26650 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26650#When:13:01:01Z Much of the negotiations on plugging a 3.2 billion dollar hole in the state budget are going on behind the scenes with the so-called "Big Three". Gov. Strickland says he's meeting with Speaker Armond Budish and Senate president Bill Harris every day to discuss the spending plan. Fri, 19 Jun 2009 13:01:01 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26648 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26648#When:01:21:00Z No nuclear plant has been built in the U.S. since the 1979 partial meltdown at the 3 Mile Island Plant in Pennsylvania.....but plans were unveiled Thursday to research the possibility of building one in Southern Ohio. Ohio Public Radio's Bill Cohen was there, and he filed this report. Fri, 19 Jun 2009 01:21:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26645 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26645#When:23:44:00Z The Ohio Department of Transportation reiterated its commitment to the innerbelt bridge and Opportunity Corridor, even though much of the federal stimulus money originally slated for them will now go to other Ohio road projects. ideastream's Bill Rice reports. Thu, 18 Jun 2009 23:44:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/soi/26626 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/soi/26626#When:18:29:01Z Utility executives, the Governor and other public officials team up Thursday for an announcement that would have been hard to envision just a few years ago. Momentum is building to put a new nuclear power plant in Southern Ohio. Federal investigators this week filed the first charges resulting from their long probe of alleged corruption in Cuyahoga County government and some local leaders call on one key suspect to step aside. The Ohio State Medical Association has some reservations about President Obama's health care reform plan. Those are some of the stories we'll review in this week's roundtable. Join us with your thoughts at 9:00 a.m. Thursday on 90.3. Thu, 18 Jun 2009 18:29:01 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26633 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26633#When:13:11:00Z With thousands of auto industry jobs disappearing across Ohio, state legislators are setting up a special committee to study the problem. Thu, 18 Jun 2009 13:11:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26630 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26630#When:21:37:00Z Ohio has settled a lawsuit over some controversial issues that surfaced in the 2004 general election. And because of this settlement, the state will be forced to make some changes in the way elections are conducted in the buckeye state in the future. Ohio Public Radio's Jo Ingles has details. Wed, 17 Jun 2009 21:37:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26631 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26631#When:21:35:00Z Governor Ted Strickland is floating about 2 billion dollars in spending cuts to help plug a projected 3 billion dollar hole in the proposed new state budget. That is drawing protests from supporters of programs for the poor and elderly. Statehouse correspondent Bill Cohen has the latest. Wed, 17 Jun 2009 21:35:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26604 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26604#When:19:30:01Z Ohio's Inspector General has determined a state employee mishandled payments directed to the agency he worked for. And the report shows the agency itself could use some improvements in the way it processes payments. Ohio Public Radio's Jo Ingles reports. Wed, 17 Jun 2009 19:30:01 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26603 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26603#When:12:55:00Z Northeastern Ohio lawmakers are faced with tough decisions in coming up with a way to pay for health care reform. Fixing the system is expected to cost more than one trillion dollars. Sara Sciammacco has more. Wed, 17 Jun 2009 12:55:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26600 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26600#When:21:07:00Z Ohio House and Senate conferees have begun talks to hammer out a compromise state budget. They must close a big gap between spending plans and projected tax revenue. As the talks get underway, there is little agreement how to do it. Key sticking points in Columbus also played out this morning on 90.3's The Sound of Ideas, as ideastream's Paul Cox explains. Tue, 16 Jun 2009 21:07:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26592 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26592#When:12:56:00Z The director of a group that helps Ohio communities with economic development projects is worried the state might lose even more jobs if state lawmakers are forced to make more cuts at the Ohio Department of Development. Tue, 16 Jun 2009 12:56:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26591 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26591#When:12:53:01Z A bill to change and update some voter-related laws has been on the back burner while lawmakers deal with the budget. But hearings are set to start soon on the bill, which would streamline voter ID requirements, put in place a statewide voter registration database and would allow special elections to be held on general election days. Tue, 16 Jun 2009 12:53:01 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26582 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26582#When:13:00:00Z Ohio legislators this week will hold committee hearings on dozens of proposals for new laws. But overshadowing all that work will be another gigantic task -- filling a multi-billion dollar hole in the upcoming state budget. Statehouse correspondent Bill Cohen has a preview of the week ahead. Mon, 15 Jun 2009 13:00:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26580 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26580#When:12:50:00Z President Obama tries to sell health care reform to an audience of the American Medical Association today while lawmakers in Washington get down to serious crafting of legislation to overhaul the nation's health care system. Among those from Northeast Ohio being heard on the issue is the head of the Cleveland Clinic. He went to Capitol Hill last week to make his recommendations. Correspondent Sara Sciammacco has more from Washington. Mon, 15 Jun 2009 12:50:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26577 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26577#When:09:00:00Z In public, six Ohio legislators are supposed to be the ones hammering out a compromise state budget and figuring out how to plug a multi-billion dollar hole in it. But, as statehouse correspondent Bill Cohen reports, those big decisions will probably be worked out by three OTHER, more powerful politicians. Mon, 15 Jun 2009 09:00:00 -0400 http://www.wviz.org/index.php/WVIZ/feagler/26563 http://www.wviz.org/index.php/WVIZ/feagler/26563#When:17:09:00Z Newsmaker—Stephen Loomis, president, Cleveland Police Patrolmen’s Association: The Ohio Supreme Court this week upheld a state law forbidding cities to impose residency requirements on their workers. Akron and Lima had challenged the law but the court, by a 5-2 margin, sided with the state. Public employee unions applaud the ruling. City officials argued the constitution’s home-rule provisions should have allowed residency requirements. Roundtable: Elizabeth Sullivan, editorial page editor, The Plain Dealer; Greg Saber, freelance journalist; Brian Tucker, publisher and editorial director, Crain’s Cleveland Business. Residency Laws: The panel continues discussion of the residency law ruling by the Ohio Supreme Court. County Reform: Local county government reform leaders put a new plan on the table this week calling for a powerful, elected county administrator backed by a county council with members elected from geographic districts. The proposal turns up the heat on a long-simmering debate over county governance. It drew immediate fire from another group of local leaders, including Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson and Congresswoman Marcia Fudge. Municipal Court Clerk: Cleveland Clerk of Courts Earle Turner is defending himself against the perception he’s not doing his job. A Plain Dealer investigation showed Turner is seldom in his Justice Center office and the paper says he’s hired scores of employees without giving them a competitive civil service test. Turner explained his job often requires attendance at events and meetings outside his office. Newsmaker II—Jim Kopniske, spokesman, Cleveland Museum of Art: The art museum is about to celebrate the opening of a major phase of its expansion and renovation. The new East Wing will connect the museum’s original building with a newer addition opened in 1971. It’s all part of a $350-million renovation scheduled for completion in 2012. Mr. Feagler’s interview with Mr. Kopniske will preview what museum patrons will see in the new facility. Fri, 12 Jun 2009 17:09:00 -0400 http://www.wviz.org/index.php/WVIZ/state_of_ohio/26585 http://www.wviz.org/index.php/WVIZ/state_of_ohio/26585#When:13:43:00Z The budget is practically the only thing that’s been talked about for the last few weeks on Capitol Square. Since the governor introduced his version in late January, it’s been revised, discussed, and revised again as new numbers came in. The House added $620 million to the governor’s proposal and sent it to the Senate, where Senators made what they say are $1 billion in overall cuts and passed it along party lines last week. Two House lawmakers talk about how they see the budget battle - Rep. John Adams (R-Sidney)and Rep. Peter Ujvagi (D-Toledo). The state’s unemployment rate is up over 10% – at a 25 year high. And in five counties, the jobless rate is above 15% – including Pike County, one of many counties in southern Ohio wrestling with big numbers of unemployed and underemployed people who are in desperate need of help. For the last few months, help has been coming from central Ohio in the form of a mobile food pantry, launching from the pantry operated by Lutheran Social Services in Lancaster, as we showed you back in February. We revisit the mobile food pantry with pantry operations manager Barbara Packer and Fairfield County pantry manager Mark McPherson. Fri, 12 Jun 2009 13:43:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26571 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26571#When:12:54:01Z The Ohio Historical Society has been holding rallies throughout the state this week to protest two million dollars worth of proposed cuts to the agency. Fri, 12 Jun 2009 12:54:01 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26570 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26570#When:12:49:00Z Ohio legislators have just been told there's a multi-billion dollar hole in the upcoming two-year state budget. Statehouse correspondent Bill Cohen reports Fri, 12 Jun 2009 12:49:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26569 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26569#When:12:45:00Z Some Ohio legislators are pushing again to stiffen the punishment for people involved with cock-fighting. A bill to make the crime a felony has just been recommended by lawmakers on the Ohio House Agriculture Committee. Statehouse correspondent Bill Cohen reports. Fri, 12 Jun 2009 12:45:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26566 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26566#When:20:58:00Z Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson officially is a candidate for reelection. ideastream®'s Rick Jackson reports. Thu, 11 Jun 2009 20:58:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26565 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26565#When:20:53:01Z As Ohio lawmakers started looking for a compromise on the new state budget they knew a financial bombshell was ticking, but they didn't know how big it was until Thursday. State officials now estimate that the state faces a 3-point-2 billion dollar shortfall over the next two years....far bigger than predicted just a few weeks ago. And as Statehouse correspondent Bill Cohen reports, lawmakers aren't exactly stepping up to the plate to deal with it. Thu, 11 Jun 2009 20:53:01 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/soi/26553 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/soi/26553#When:19:39:00Z After decades of legal wrangling, the Ohio Supreme Court makes an important call: cities like Akron and Cleveland cannot tell their employees where to live. Government reformers have put a new plan on the table in Cuyahoga County. They want to replace county commissioners with an elected, powerful administrator and a county council. Meanwhile, the overseer of municipal courts fights evidence that he works only seven hours a week. And a Toledo man says he's designed an engine that will get 110 miles-per-gallon. Join us with your questions Thursday at 9:00 on The Sound of Ideas. Thu, 11 Jun 2009 19:39:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26562 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26562#When:16:42:00Z COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - The Ohio House has voted overwhelmingly to reject changes in the state's budget plan made by the Senate, setting up difficult negotiations between Republicans and Democrats. The Democratic-controlled House voted 97-1 Wednesday against the Senate version, sending the two-year, $54 billion plan into negotiations. Republicans who control the Senate cut about $600 million in state money from the House plan and stripped out Gov. Ted Strickland's school-funding proposal. House members from both parties said Wednesday they expect the budget negotiations to be extremely difficult. New revenue forecasts out Thursday will likely show further declines, and lawmakers say that will force them to cut a few billion dollars from the spending plan. House and Senate negotiators are trying to get the budget to Strickland before July 1, when the new fiscal year begins. Thu, 11 Jun 2009 16:42:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26561 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26561#When:16:37:00Z COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - The Strickland administration says Ohio's upcoming budget will have a hole of up to $3.2 billion because revenues are falling fast. Governor Ted Strickland's budget director told lawmakers today that the state's economy continues to get slammed by the recession. Thu, 11 Jun 2009 16:37:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26556 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26556#When:03:23:01Z Wednesday's Ohio Supreme Court ruling striking down residency requirements for city workers was celebrated by many members of Cleveland's safety forces. But, most Cleveland officials were dismayed by the decision and concerned about its long-term implications. ideastream®'s David C. Barnett has more. Thu, 11 Jun 2009 03:23:01 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26552 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26552#When:19:32:01Z The sale of Chrysler to the Italian automaker Fiat finalized early today/Wednesday marks the end of an era for many Chrysler dealers. The company stripped a third of its dealers, including fourteen in the Cleveland/Akron region, of their franchises. Ideastream®'s Rick Jackson stopped into a former dealer in Parma, and found a somber mood. Wed, 10 Jun 2009 19:32:01 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26550 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26550#When:16:22:00Z Ohio cities don't have the legal authority to require their government workers to live within the city limits. That's the fall-out from a ruling today by the Ohio Supreme Court. Details from statehouse correspondent Bill Cohen. Wed, 10 Jun 2009 16:22:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26546 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26546#When:12:46:00Z Ohio voters won't be getting the chance to repeal the state income tax this November after all. A group that had vowed to give them that chance says it is shelving that idea for the time being. Statehouse correspondent Bill Cohen reports. Wed, 10 Jun 2009 12:46:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26545 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26545#When:05:07:00Z More than a dozen finance experts from around the country are in Cleveland to discuss how federal policies may or may not have contributed to the mortgage crisis, and where to go from here. ideastream's Bill Rice reports. Wed, 10 Jun 2009 05:07:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26544 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26544#When:20:36:00Z The latest proposal to change the structure of Cuyahoga County's government is drawing fire from some local political leaders. ideastream®'s Rick Jackson reports. Tue, 09 Jun 2009 20:36:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26543 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26543#When:19:58:00Z Some Ohio lawmakers want to close a loophole in the state's payday lending law that they say allows lenders to continue lending at exorbitant rates. But spokespeople for the industry insist they're being demonized. The debate played out this morning/yesterday on 90.3's The Sound of Ideas. ideastream's Paul Cox reports. Tue, 09 Jun 2009 19:58:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/soi/26512 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/soi/26512#When:17:30:00Z Ohio voters thought they'd outlawed high-interest payday loans. But many lenders found loopholes that allowed them to continue making unsecured loans at even higher rates by levying additional fees. Now, Ohio lawmakers will take another crack at limiting payday loans with a new set of rules contained in House Bill 209. We'll discuss the law with its chief sponsor, talk to an advocate for low income people and hear the industry side from the CEO of a payday lending company with more than 200 offices. Join us with your thoughts Tuesday morning at 9:00. Tue, 09 Jun 2009 17:30:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26521 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26521#When:13:00:00Z Summer temperatures of more than 90 degrees are likely weeks away. That means electricity bills could be rising to pay for air conditioning. It's an extra expense that often hits low-income families hard, but the state and federal governments are working together to bring them some relief. Ohio Public Radio's Bill Cohen reports. Tue, 09 Jun 2009 13:00:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26520 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26520#When:12:59:00Z An Ohio program to reimburse victims of attorney theft continues to shell out money. Statehouse correspondent Bill Cohen has details on the latest round. Tue, 09 Jun 2009 12:59:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26519 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26519#When:12:57:00Z As lawmakers on the conference committee prepare to do battle over what stays in the final version of the Ohio budget, all other business at the Statehouse has slowed to a standstill. Ohio Public Radio's Karen Kasler reports. Tue, 09 Jun 2009 12:57:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26516 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26516#When:03:09:00Z Homelessness has long been a chronic problem in Cleveland, and has become more prevalent recently in outlying communities as jobs have disappeared. Last night Cleveland City council gave final approval to passing nearly 10 million dollars in federal stimulus funding spending to the county for homelessness prevention. Ideastream's Bill Rice reports. Tue, 09 Jun 2009 03:09:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26514 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26514#When:21:22:00Z A prominent expert on urban affairs thinks the state is not spending its share of federal stimulus funds wisely. ideastream®’s Dan Bobkoff reports. Mon, 08 Jun 2009 21:22:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/soi/26460 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/soi/26460#When:14:23:00Z After 124 successful space shuttle missions over the last three decades, space travel has begun to feel a bit unremarkable. But the engineers and researchers who are widely known as "rocket scientists" are doing and have done some pretty astounding things. We have put robots on Mars--they're still sending pictures back. We've sent probes to explore Saturn's rings. Researchers are working on ideas as wild as antimatter propulsion systems and using Neptune's atmosphere to fuel trips beyond the solar system. On the next Sound of Ideas: the latest innovations in rocket science. Monday at 9 on 90.3. Mon, 08 Jun 2009 14:23:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26467 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26467#When:11:44:00Z Dozens of local and state decision-makers are coming to northeast Ohio today for a one-day conference looking at the future of Cleveland. These big picture conversations happen from time-to-time, but organizers say the time is ripe to make something happen. ideastream's Bill Rice reports. Mon, 08 Jun 2009 11:44:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26466 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26466#When:11:23:01Z Gay rights, prison overcrowding, and a new state budget for Ohio. Those are some of the top agenda items for state legislators this coming week. Statehouse correspondent Bill Cohen reports from the statehouse. Mon, 08 Jun 2009 11:23:01 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26465 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26465#When:22:16:00Z For the first time this year, Ohio put to death a condemned inmate this week. And an expert who's researched the death penalty in Ohio says the pace of executions is likely to pick up. Statehouse correspondent Karen Kasler reports. Fri, 05 Jun 2009 22:16:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26464 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26464#When:21:59:00Z When it comes to bringing gambling casinos to the Buckeye state --- all bets are off...or...on. Backers AND critics of a proposed ballot issue that would authorize 4 casinos in Ohio... are both claiming victory in a Youngstown court fight. Statehouse correspondent Bill Cohen explains Fri, 05 Jun 2009 21:59:00 -0400 http://www.wviz.org/index.php/WVIZ/feagler/26383 http://www.wviz.org/index.php/WVIZ/feagler/26383#When:17:20:00Z A special edition of Feagler & Friends Chris Ronayne, president, University Circle, Inc.; Brent Larkin, former editorial page director, The Plain Dealer; Jay Westbrook, Cleveland City Council member. What Have We Done Right and Wrong and What Should We Do Better? Cleveland and the region can point to a number of solid civic accomplishments over the years including investing hundreds of millions of dollars to revamp outdated Cleveland schools, building stadiums and an arena to retain major league sports and bringing the once-burning river back to life. Still, the region’s economy continues to decline, and the population shrinks as people leave for opportunity elsewhere. Our panel of local thinkers will ponder on how we can correct the mistakes of the past and how we can better capitalize on the things we’ve done right and make Cleveland a real comeback city. John J. Gill, attorney—when retired Seven Hills auto worker John Demjanjuk was first accused nearly 30 years ago of working in a Nazi death camp, he hired Cleveland attorney John J. Gill as part of his defense team. They eventually were able to convince the Israeli court system that Demjanjuk was not a notorious guard at Treblinka known as Ivan the Terrible. But suspicion continued, and now Demjanjuk is in German custody awaiting trial over accusations he assisted in the death of 29,000 Jews at Sobibor, a death camp in Nazi-occupied Poland. Gill asserts the evidence against Demjanjuk is flimsy. Fri, 05 Jun 2009 17:20:00 -0400 http://www.wviz.org/index.php/WVIZ/state_of_ohio/26470 http://www.wviz.org/index.php/WVIZ/state_of_ohio/26470#When:13:14:00Z It’s no surprise to anyone who’s been watching state politics in the last few years that former central Ohio congressman John Kasich wants to be governor. This week, he made it official. It could be said that the budget is halfway done – the Democrat-dominated House passed their budget in April, and the Republican-controlled Senate okayed their spending plan this week. But lawmakers will soon have to sit down and reconcile their spending plans, and the vote in the Senate shows there’s a lot of work ahead to reach that compromise. Among those who spoke about the budget were Senators John Carey (R-Wellston), Keith Faber (R-Celina), Nina Turner (D-Cleveland), Ray Miller (D-Columbus), Jon Husted (R-Kettering), and Dale Miller (D-Cleveland). Last week experts from the right and the left were here to talk about how they see the budget, and I asked David Hansen from the Buckeye Institute and Brian Rothenberg from Progress Ohio about what they think can be done to balance it in 2010 and 2011 but beyond that. Ohio's first execution of the year went forward this week, this time with a slight change in the procedure. 39 year old Daniel Wilson of Lorain was put to death at the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility in Lucasville for the murder of 24 year old Carol Lutz in 1991. Two reporters who’ve seen the execution process in Ohio firsthand and researched it extensively talk about it. Alan Johnson is a reporter for the Columbus Dispatch and estimates he’s been a media witness for at least six executions. Andrew Welsh Huggins is a reporter for the Associated Press and has written a new book called “No Winners Here Tonight: Race, Politics and Geography in One of the Country’s Busiest Death Penalty States”. Fri, 05 Jun 2009 13:14:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26459 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26459#When:12:53:00Z The state budget must be in place by June 30, which means lawmakers have little time to reconcile the very different budgets that came out of the Democrat-dominated House and the Republican controlled Senate. The state has had interim budgets in the past, and while Senate President Bill Harris says it's important to have a contingency plan, he wants to - in his words - accomplish the mission. Fri, 05 Jun 2009 12:53:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26457 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26457#When:12:27:00Z What would God do? That's the question being asked by backers of social welfare programs. They say more money is needed to serve Ohio's poorest, oldest, and youngest citizens. But some state lawmakers reject that message saying God does not take a side on state tax issues. Ohio Public Radio's Jo Ingles reports. Fri, 05 Jun 2009 12:27:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26455 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26455#When:22:38:00Z Critics of a plan to authorize 4 gambling casinos in Ohio are charging that supporters are using mis-leading sales pitches to get the public to put the plan onto the ballot. Now, the dispute is in the hands of a judge. Statehouse correspondent Bill Cohen reports. Thu, 04 Jun 2009 22:38:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26456 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26456#When:22:27:00Z Cincinnati-based Fifth Third Bank has raised a billion dollars after issuing more than 150 million new shares, putting it on much firmer ground. Ideastream's Bill Rice reports. Thu, 04 Jun 2009 22:27:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26441 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26441#When:09:49:01Z A plan to dramatically alter the structure of government in Cuyahoga County could be on its way to appearing on the November ballot. This comes after more than a year of public and closed door meetings by local leaders about multiple competing proposals. The latest plan being drawn up by a select group of leaders, including the county prosecutor, the Mayor of Pepper Pike and others, faces big hurdles. Supporters will need to gather 46,000 signatures by mid July. And there’s significant opposition from key black leaders. ideastream®’s Caitlin Johnson reports. Thu, 04 Jun 2009 09:49:01 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/soi/26437 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/soi/26437#When:06:00:00Z State Senate Republicans cut a billion dollars from the state budget while restoring support to hospitals and charter schools. With party line vote approval, the $53 billion budget now comes head to head with a conference committee and new, lower revenue projections. Meanwhile, a corporate giant leaves Dayton, and a former Congressman turned talk show host says he wants to be Ohio's next governor. Analysis of those stories and the rest of the week's news on the next Sound of Ideas. Join us tomorrow at nine on 90.3. Thu, 04 Jun 2009 06:00:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26444 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26444#When:00:25:00Z For years, proposals to allow oil and gas drilling in state parks in Ohio have gone nowhere in the legislature. But now, supporters of the idea have won a small victory. Republicans who dominate the state senate have put the drilling proposal into their version of the state budget that has just been okayed by the senate. That is re-igniting the debate as statehouse correspondent Bill Cohen reports. Thu, 04 Jun 2009 00:25:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26443 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26443#When:00:21:00Z NCR's decision to leave Dayton is drawing ire from both sides of the political spectrum. From member station WYSO, Emily McCord reports. Thu, 04 Jun 2009 00:21:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26442 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26442#When:21:48:00Z Senators passed their $53 billion state budge, and soon lawmakers will have to sit down and reconcile their spending plan with the one from their colleagues in the House. And as Ohio Public Radio's Karen Kasler reports, the vote shows there's a lot of work ahead to reach that compromise. Wed, 03 Jun 2009 21:48:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/soi/26414 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/soi/26414#When:19:14:00Z The clock is ticking on efforts to reform Cuyahoga County government. Any plan that will go before voters in November needs 46,000 signatures by July 13th in order to make it on to the ballot. The biggest sticking points right now have to do with minority representation. Hammering out a compromise has gone on for a year behind closed doors. We’ll talk to some county leaders involved in these closed-door sessions to find out what ideas are competing, what obstacles are present and what needs to be done to reach consensus. Join us for the Sound of Ideas at 9 on 90.3. Wed, 03 Jun 2009 19:14:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26436 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26436#When:19:11:00Z Millions of dollars in the bank - but none available to pay bills. ideastream®'s Rick Jackson reports on Stark County's tight financial situation. Wed, 03 Jun 2009 19:11:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26426 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26426#When:13:16:00Z With its bankruptcy this week, GM says it's driving in a new direction, even if some say the government is behind the wheel. At least some auto watchers are quite optimistic about the company's post bankruptcy future. Megan Smith reports. Wed, 03 Jun 2009 13:16:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26423 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26423#When:12:50:00Z State Senators are set to vote on their $53 billion state budget today, after making some more changes in the spending plan that was sent over from the House. Ohio Public Radio's Karen Kasler has the details. Wed, 03 Jun 2009 12:50:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26422 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26422#When:12:39:00Z Some Ohio legislators are accusing payday lenders of skirting the spirit of a new state law, so they can continue to charge sky-high rates on short-term loans. The lenders insist they aren't doing anything illegal, but the lawmakers are still vowing to pass another crackdown. Statehouse correspondent Bill Cohen reports. Wed, 03 Jun 2009 12:39:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26420 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26420#When:04:28:01Z A capacity crowd watched the Lake Erie Crushers beat the Windy City Thunderbolts, Tuesday night, in a new ball park just off Interstate 90 in Lorain County. All Pro Freight Stadium is home for the Crushers -- a minor league team stocked with players looking for a second chance. This story is about more than baseball, though. The city of Avon is hoping that the team will give a boost to the local economy. ideastream's David C. Barnett has more. Wed, 03 Jun 2009 04:28:01 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26417 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26417#When:21:50:00Z A panel that hopes to change the structure of Cuyahoga County Government is racing to put a proposal on the November ballot. ideastream®'s Rick Jackson reports. Tue, 02 Jun 2009 21:50:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26419 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26419#When:21:29:01Z Backers of a proposed ballot issue that would authorize gambling casinos in Cleveland, Cincinnati, Toledo, and Columbus insist they are still working toward a ballot issue THIS November, despite reports they might wait another year. Tue, 02 Jun 2009 21:29:01 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26409 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26409#When:12:50:01Z Former nine-term Central Ohio Congressman John Kasich made it official yesterday: he wants Governor Ted Strickland's job. Kasich made the announcement in his adopted hometown of Westerville as several hundred supporters cheered him on. Statehouse correspondent Bill Cohen was there too and he filed this report. Tue, 02 Jun 2009 12:50:01 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26408 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26408#When:12:46:00Z Ohio will lose three plants in the bankruptcy and restructuring of General Motors. The largest impact in Northeast Ohio will be 1,300 jobs at the Mansfield stamping plant. From member station WOSU, Mandie Trimble reports. Tue, 02 Jun 2009 12:46:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26407 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26407#When:06:41:00Z Part of the price General Motors and its workers will pay to emerge from bankruptcy as a new, lean and viable corporation is more cuts - more dealers will be dropped than announced just last month and 14 more plants will close. Actually,the news for Ohio turns out to be much better than at first feared. ideastream®'s Mhari Saito and David C. Barnett report. Tue, 02 Jun 2009 06:41:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/soi/26403 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/soi/26403#When:06:00:00Z The General Motors bankruptcy raises huge questions about the future of the auto industry and the role the government will play at that car maker. President Barack Obama says the government's "goal is to get GM back on its feet, take a hands off approach and get out quickly." That doesn't answer the question about whether taxpayers will get a return on their investment. Tuesday morning at 9, we explain this complicated bankruptcy and find out what it means for Ohio industry. Tue, 02 Jun 2009 06:00:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26397 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26397#When:13:00:00Z If Governor Ted Strickland and lawmakers do as expected and go to the rainy day fund to plug a $900 million deficit in the state budget, that will open up a $3 billion hole in the next spending plan. Ohio Public Radio's Karen Kasler sat down with two policy watchers to hear their proposals about how to deal with the problem. Mon, 01 Jun 2009 13:00:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26395 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26395#When:10:14:00Z Former Ohio Congressman John Kasich later today will formally announce his bid to challenge Democratic Governor Ted Strickland governor in 2010. ideastream’s Bill rice reports. Mon, 01 Jun 2009 10:14:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26389 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26389#When:20:29:01Z The action comes as the state faces a 900-million dollar budget shortfall for this current fiscal year and possibly several billion short in the next budget. Fri, 29 May 2009 20:29:01 -0400 http://www.wviz.org/index.php/WVIZ/feagler/26367 http://www.wviz.org/index.php/WVIZ/feagler/26367#When:18:46:00Z Newsmaker—Representative Dennis Kucinich: Given the steady parade of crises, it’s been a momentous year on Capitol Hill. Congress has approved massive stimulus measures for the economy and bailouts for the auto industry. And it appears poised for debate on health care reform and global warming legislation. Given the sorry state of American car-makers and the resilience of the recession, is any of this working? And what’s the short-term agenda for the House? We’ll find out. Roundtable: Bob Dyer, columnist, Akron Beacon Journal; Erick Trickey, senior editor, Cleveland magazine; Harry Boomer, reporter, 19 Action News. Plusquellic Recall: Akron voters go to the polls June 23 to decide if they’ll retain six-term Mayor Don Plusquellic. A citizens’ group led by attorney Warner Mendenhall mounted the recall effort alleging mismanagement of the city’s business. Plusquellic and supporters say his record and vote-getting power speak for themselves and he’s campaigning to keep his job. County Reform: Efforts to restructure Cuyahoga County government may be picking up steam. Local reform leaders met again this week and appear poised to launch a petition drive that would bring reform to the ballot in the fall. That effort would have to begin soon to meet a July deadline. Supreme Court Nominee: President Obama wants New York appeals court judge Sonia Sotomayor to take David Souter’s seat on the U.S. Supreme Court. Sotomayor is the daughter of Puerto Rican parents and is the first Hispanic judge nominated to the court. The president called Sotomayor’s personal story ‘inspiring.’ Critics label her a liberal judicial activist. Newsmaker II--Johnathan Holifield, CEO, Urban League of Greater Cleveland: The 92-year-old social service organization is sinking under a mountain of debt and is in danger of closing its doors. In fact, the group announced last week that it would close by the end of this week, but Mark Morial, head of the national Urban League, said he’s working on a plan to keep the local office open. If it closes, the city would lose programs focused on minority job training and business development. Fri, 29 May 2009 18:46:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/soi/26364 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/soi/26364#When:14:51:00Z Northeast Ohio has some great opportunities for bicycle riding. While bicyclists and city planners agree on the need to get more people traveling via pedal power, the plan on how best to get there isn't so clear. Some cycling advocates say the answer is better infrastructure and funding. Friday morning, we'll talk to local bike enthusiasts and city planners on what it would take to be a more bike-friendly community and where the funding might come from. Pedaling forward, Friday at 9:00 on 90.3. *Photo of the Towpath Trail, Courtesy of Cuyahoga Valley National Park Fri, 29 May 2009 14:51:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26373 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26373#When:13:02:01Z CLEVELAND (AP) — Cleveland's tourism bureau has picked a pair of two-minute videos to show some of the sweeter aspects of the often-maligned Lake Erie port city. Fri, 29 May 2009 13:02:01 -0400 http://www.wviz.org/index.php/WVIZ/state_of_ohio/26396 http://www.wviz.org/index.php/WVIZ/state_of_ohio/26396#When:13:02:00Z The budget battle is underway – the Senate has released its two year spending plan, after the House voted out a version that includes $620 million more money than Gov. Ted Strickland’s original proposal. The state’s jobless rate is at its highest level since December 1983. But in some areas, these bad numbers are even worse. State representative Josh Mandel (R-Lyndhurst) has announced he’s running for treasurer. Gov. Ted Strickland has to cut around $900 million from the budget by the end of the fiscal year, and if he and lawmakers agree to go to the rainy day fund, that will open up a $3 billion hole in the next spending plan. David Hansen from the Buckeye Institute, a self-described free market think tank, and Brian Rothenberg from Progress Ohio, a non-profit coalition of left leaning groups and activists, share their ideas on what needs to happen to get the budget balanced. Fri, 29 May 2009 13:02:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26368 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26368#When:23:05:00Z Drag racing on city streets and interstate highways can turn deadly, and Ohio lawmakers want to ramp up penalties. Statehouse correspondent Bill Cohen reports. Thu, 28 May 2009 23:05:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/soi/26355 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/soi/26355#When:18:18:00Z Early balloting is underway in Akron where voters decide next month if they'll retain six-term Mayor Don Plusquellic, who's now the target of a recall campaign. The City of Cleveland water division plans to overhaul the way it bills its 1.5-million metropolitan customers.The changes come after the city was flooded with complaints from people angry over enormous water bills. A judge strikes down a Cleveland city charter amendment and threatens many city employees' jobs. Thursday on The Sound of Ideas, it's the reporters' roundtable. Join the conversation at 9:00 a.m. on 90.3. Thu, 28 May 2009 18:18:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26361 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26361#When:12:58:00Z Hard work and tough circumstances can turn friends into enemies - or they can create common ground between very different people. Ohio Public Radio's Karen Kasler talked to two political operatives who are polar opposites - but who agree on one point. Thu, 28 May 2009 12:58:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26358 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26358#When:21:38:01Z Two more Cleveland Department of Building and Housing inspectors have been charged. The investigation into corruption in Cuyahoga County government continues. Ideastream®'s Bill Rice has more. Wed, 27 May 2009 21:38:01 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26359 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26359#When:21:08:00Z Gay rights advocates are once again pushing Ohio legislators to expand the state's civil rights law. Statehouse correspondent Bill Cohen reports that - even though more and more lawmakers appear ready to co-sponsor the measure, it still faces an uphill battle. Wed, 27 May 2009 21:08:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26349 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26349#When:12:45:00Z Last Friday came the news that Ohio's official unemployment rate had shot up to 10.2%, the highest rate in 25 years. Now, officials have released a county-by-county breakdown, and it shows some big differences in the jobs picture across the state. Details from statehouse correspondent Bill Cohen. Wed, 27 May 2009 12:45:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26347 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26347#When:22:35:00Z Conservative lawmakers in Washington have called President Obama's Supreme Court nominee radical and say they may filibuster the choice, Jonathan Entin, Dean of Academic Affairs at Case Law School, believes that's not a course that will ultimately succeed. Tue, 26 May 2009 22:35:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26346 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26346#When:22:21:00Z In less than a week, former Congressman John Kasich will launch his campaign for the Republican nomination for governor on next year's ballot. But State Representative Kevin Coughlin, who is already in the race, says he's not backing out. Ohio Public Radio's Karen Kasler reports. Tue, 26 May 2009 22:21:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26327 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26327#When:22:01:00Z When a company wants to find a place to put its new headquarters or a new factory, they often shop around for the best tax breaks a state can offer. A report out last week says tax cuts over the past few years have made Ohio competitive with other states, but we still lag others. ideastream®'s Dan Bobkoff has more. Mon, 25 May 2009 22:01:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/soi/26316 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/soi/26316#When:16:41:00Z When soldiers return home from war, many cope with the aftermath of traumatic brain injuries and post-traumatic stress. But it's not just the soldier who suffers, parents, especially mothers, who have given up everything -- their jobs, retirement savings, and plans for the future - often step in and care for their wounded children. On Memorial Day, we share a Public Radio Exchange program Picking Up the Pieces. The Sound of Ideas returns Tuesday with staycations - the low cost alternative to long-distance vacation travel. Mon, 25 May 2009 16:41:00 -0400