http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/topic_politics/ ideastream - Politics News (c) Copyright 2008 ideastream - For Personal Use Only http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/11994 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/11994#When:22:54:00Z Since the flight of residents from urban centers began nearly half a century ago, towns and cities around Northeast Ohio have viewed their farmland as prime real estate. Leaders in cities like Avon, Brunswick, Strongsville, and Westlake, to name a few, encouraged extensive residential growth on former pastures and cropland, and many still do today. But local advocates for rural preservation say residential growth, unchecked, works against cities, and point to new study to prove their point. ideastream’s Dan Bobkoff reports: Thu, 08 May 2008 22:54:00 -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/11958 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/11958#When:22:24:00Z Ohio Attorney General Marc Dann is under increasing pressure to resign since an investigation uncovered a multitude of sins - including sexual harassment in his office, and his own affair with a subordinate. Eight top democrats, including Governor Strickland and U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown, have threatened impeachment if Dann doesn't step down. It's got people talking… about whether Dann should resign, and just what charge he would be impeached on if he doesn't. It was all part of a spirited discussion on 90.3's morning talk show The Sound of Ideas Tuesday. ideastream's Rick Jackson has more. Tue, 06 May 2008 22:24:00 -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/11944 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/soi/11944#When:14:00:00Z Tension is growing in Columbus: The Governor and Ohio's leading democrats are asking for Attorney General Marc Dann to resign. And now...there appears to be a standoff. Barely a month has passed since sexual harrassment allegations became the only news coming out of the AG's office. The story raises important questions about ethics in politics and when and why a scandal can take down an elected official. Join us Tuesday morning at 9, and we'll look for some answers. Tue, 06 May 2008 14:00:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/11948 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/11948#When:11:04:00Z Akron mayor Don Plusquellic traveled to Tokyo Thursday (last week) to meet with Bridgestone-Firestone executives. The city has been working on a $68 million dollar deal to convince the tiremaker to keep its technical center in Akron. ideastream's Kymberli Hagelberg has this report. Tue, 06 May 2008 11:04:00 -0400 http://www.wviz.org/index.php/WVIZ/feagler/11889 http://www.wviz.org/index.php/WVIZ/feagler/11889#When:00:30:00Z Newsmakers: Lyle Berman, chairman and CEO, Lakes Entertainment and Dr. Bradford Pressman, co-founder MyOhioNow.com. Berman, founder of the World Poker Tour, and his Ohio partners want to build a $600 million resort and casino in Clinton County, Ohio. They say the venture would generate 5,000 jobs and $200 million in annual tax revenue to be shared by each of the state’s 88 counties. To make the project a reality, backers will first have to get approval from Ohio voters who’ve repeatedly rejected proposals to establish casino gambling. They hope to put the issue on the ballot this fall. Roundtable: Joe Frolik, editorial board member, The Plain Dealer; Greg Saber, reporter, WTAM 1100; Harry Boomer, reporter, 19 Action News. State Caps Payday Lenders: The Ohio House has passed one of the nation’s strictest limits on the interest charged by payday lenders. If the Senate goes along with the legislation, lenders will be limited to a 28 percent APR. The current practice is a flat charge of 15 percent on a $100 loan short term loan, which amounts to an annual rate of close to 400%. Lawmakers ignored lender complaints that the limit will put them out of business. The Wright Stuff? Like it or not, Senator Barack Obama has an unofficial running mate. Obama tried again to distance himself from the caustic rhetoric of retired Chicago minister Jeremiah Wright who performed Obama’s wedding and baptized his children, but Wright’s views were again on national display. Wright’s appearances, including an interview with Bill Moyers of PBS, were intended to explain his incendiary pulpit remarks. Instead they only brought on further controversy and brought new questions about his relationship with Obama who denounced Wright’s more recent remarks as “appalling.” Political Patronage: A report in this week’s Plain Dealer focused attention on the practical side of political patronage. The newspaper looked inside the office of Cuyahoga County recorder Patrick O’Malley. There the paper found a number of employees it says qualified for their jobs mainly by virtue of their political connections. Political patronage has long been a fact of life in local government. The article looked at the extent to which it operates in one county office. Sat, 03 May 2008 00:30:00 -0400 http://www.wviz.org/index.php/WVIZ/state_of_ohio/11927 http://www.wviz.org/index.php/WVIZ/state_of_ohio/11927#When:14:31:00Z The findings of the investigation into claims of sexual harassment in the Attorney General’s office are out, and the AG has admitted he had a “romantic relationship” with a staffer in his office. Two aides are fired, another resigns, and a staffer in Dann’s office turns in her resignation. The payday lending industry in Ohio may soon undergo a dramatic change, under a bill that passed the House in a controversial and unusually political session. Lawmakers pass a bill to cap interest on payday loans at 28%, but the bill almost dies because of a sudden gamble by Republicans. Gov. Strickland says he wants to take over the Department of Education and assign oversight to a cabinet-level education director. The governor’s plan would reduce to advisory roles both the current board and the superintendent it hires. State Board of Education member Colleen Grady reacts to the plan. Fri, 02 May 2008 14:31:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/11892 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/11892#When:21:39:01Z While the democratic presidential candidates still dominate the headlines these days, John McCain is forging ahead with his “Call to Action Tour”. During a stop in Cleveland today , the senator promoted his healthcare plan at a town hall-style event at the Cleveland Clinic. ideastream’s Dan Bobkoff was there. Thu, 01 May 2008 21:39:01 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/soi/11881 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/soi/11881#When:19:14:01Z In the news... State lawmakers prepare to pass the nation's tightest cap on the payday lending business and Republicans are in the lead. Continental Airlines decides to continue flying solo rather than merge. That seems to be good news for Hopkins Airport. National City's CEO tells shareholders he feels their pain. And Shaker Heights offers a bounty for new condo buyers. Join the discussion on the reporters' roundtable Thursday morning at 9:00 on the Sound of Ideas. Thu, 01 May 2008 19:14:01 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/11873 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/11873#When:23:00:00Z Cleveland city officials are craving out new ways to boost the city’s economic development programs. At a council committee meeting today, officials rolled out a proposal that give better incentives for current and prospective business owners to build and work in the city. ideastream’s Economics Reporter Tasha Flournoy has more on the city’s plans. Tue, 29 Apr 2008 23:00:00 -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/11819 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/11819#When:23:00:00Z Cuyahoga County's commissioners Thursday tabled a proposal to extend the runway at it's eastern suburban airport after hearing impassioned objections at their weekly public meeting. Ideastream's Bill Rice reports. Thu, 24 Apr 2008 23:00:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/soi/11603 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/soi/11603#When:14:00:00Z Two Plain Dealer reporters get bounced by Cuyahoga County Commissioner Jimmy Dimora. Attorney General Marc Dann releases redacted emails but can't escape the spotlight. The House and the Governor square off on the energy bill. Join us for a conversation about those stories and others from the week's news. Thu, 24 Apr 2008 14:00:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/11806 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/11806#When:21:02:01Z Northeast Ohio has been trying to cope with an increasing shortage of healthcare workers for some years. Now the region is getting a fresh infusion of money to bolster those efforts. ideastream’s Dan Bobkoff has more. Wed, 23 Apr 2008 21:02:01 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/11682 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/11682#When:15:06:00Z Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson celebrated Earth Day Tuesday by signing a United Nations agreement for to improve the environment. Ideastream's Kymberli Hagelberg has details. Wed, 23 Apr 2008 15:06:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/soi/10790 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/soi/10790#When:14:00:01Z We'll spend the hour with Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson. The city's work is pressing on a number of fronts. Last year was a tough one for public safety. The mayor's new safety plan will redraw police district boundaries. That idea has found a few critics, and it's set to begin in early May. Also, the mayor's office is taking a new approach to violent crime, involving... Tue, 22 Apr 2008 14:00:01 -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/news/11455 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/11455#When:20:32:01Z If you're a city worker in Lorain, get ready to be tracked...maybe. The mayor wants to attach global positioning systems to all city vehicles. ideastream's Dan Bobkoff has more. Fri, 18 Apr 2008 20:32:01 -0400 http://www.wviz.org/index.php/WVIZ/state_of_ohio/11462 http://www.wviz.org/index.php/WVIZ/state_of_ohio/11462#When:13:20:00Z This week on "The State of Ohio": Supporters of the state's concealed carry weapons law take aim at cities which want to keep guns out of parks and other places. Lawmakers and the governor snuff out plans to move anti-smoking money to where they couldn't get it. But the story doesn't quit there. Ohio's economic future doesn't seem to bright now, though there is a jobs package in the works. The state's chief jobs and welfare officer is here to talk about the challenges she's facing. And drivers will soon be staring down orange barrels all around the state. Fri, 18 Apr 2008 13:20:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/11417 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/11417#When:23:00:01Z Any major reform of public school funding won’t happen till next year…At least not at Governor Ted Strickland’s urging. In an address to the Ohio Federation of Teachers convention in Cleveland today, Strickland laid out more of his education goals his education goals and his timetable for promoting them. Ideastream's Tasha Flournoy has the story. Thu, 17 Apr 2008 23:00:01 -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/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.wviz.org/index.php/WVIZ/state_of_ohio/11271 http://www.wviz.org/index.php/WVIZ/state_of_ohio/11271#When:19:15:01Z The Ohio Supreme Court will settle the issue of whether cities can target areas where carry concealed weapons aren’t allowed. The justices heard arguments this week over a 2006 law that shot down some 80 local ordinances passed after the concealed-carry weapons ban went into effect in 2004. The bills that would crack down on payday lenders in Ohio haven’t moved, but public hearings on the issue go on. This week the venue was a church in Columbus, where Attorney General Marc Dann and Rep. Tyrone Yates of Cincinnati heard from supporters and opponents of the quick-loan industry. Attorney General Marc Dann has drawn a lot of interest in the last few days, because of sexual harassment claims filed by two women who worked in his office. The women say Dann’s general services director Anthony Gutierrez made suggestive remarks to them, touched them inappropriately and pressured them for sex in exchange for helping them get their jobs. The House has finalized a long-awaited energy plan to restructure the electricity industry and increase renewable energy investments in the state. After lawmakers announced they’d be nicking most of the money in the state’s anti-tobacco agency’s budget to pay for an economic stimulus package, the Ohio Tobacco Prevention Foundation lit into those plans with a daring counterattack – transferring the funds away from state officials. Lawmakers and the governor fought back, and now the fight has been frozen by a judge. These last few months have seen some of the worst economic news in years, with jobless rates around the state above the national average, and record numbers of foreclosures. Helen Jones-Kelley, the director of the state’s Department of Job and Family Services, talks about dealing with these gloomy statistics. The orange barrels are starting to bloom along Ohio’s highways, marking the start of the most expensive construction season in state history. But ODOT director James Beasley says the costs of construction projects continue to climb, but state gas tax revenues are flattening, so other ideas to fund highway work have to be considered. Fri, 11 Apr 2008 19:15:01 -0400 http://www.wviz.org/index.php/WVIZ/feagler/11264 http://www.wviz.org/index.php/WVIZ/feagler/11264#When:05:00:00Z Newsmaker: Joe Marinucci, President and CEO, Downtown Cleveland Alliance. With the Euclid Corridor Project nearing completion, we’re now getting a clearer picture of the potential for business development expected downtown in coming years. A report prepared for the Alliance, the Historic Gateway Neighborhood and Playhouse Square Foundation points to new developments such as a furniture district, a ‘college town’ centered around Cleveland State University and a design district. Some development has already happened along and near East Fourth Street where an entertainment district thrives. Roundtable: Elizabeth Sullivan, foreign affairs writer, The Plain Dealer; Kevin O’Brien, columnist, The Plain Dealer; Brian Tucker, publisher and editorial director, Crain’s Cleveland Business. Downtown Business Development: The roundtable will continue the discussion of prospects for re-emergence of downtown retailing. The General Goes to Congress: U.S. commander in Iraq, General David Patraeus this week urged Congress not to impose a strict timetable for withdrawal of U.S. forces. Doing so, he said, would threaten the fragile gains made by American and Iraqi security forces. In response, President Bush ordered a halt to troop withdrawals after July and warned Iran to stop interfering in Iraq or the U.S. will act to “protect its interests.” Trouble for the Attorney General: Attorney General Marc Dann’s office is investigating sexual harassment allegations that hit close to home. Two women who work in Dann’s office accused a chief aide of pressuring them for sex. Published reports say one of the women who complained said she’d seen another AG’s aide at Dann’s apartment in her pajamas, an allegation Dann has denied. The sexual harassment complaints are under investigation. It’s the latest dust-up for an attorney general whose time in office has generated a number of controversies. Fri, 11 Apr 2008 05:00:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/11281 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/11281#When:11:00:00Z Yesterday on Morning Edition we got one perspective on who's to blame for the mortgage crisis. ideastream®'s Eric Wellman spoke with Attorney Frank Ford, who is a senior vice president at Neighborhood Progress Incorporated, a Cleveland non-profit. Ford made the case that the crisis is largely the fault of irresponsible lenders, not borrowers. Earlier this week nine lenders signed a non binding pact where they essentially agreed to do more to work with homeowners struggling to pay their mortgages. In part 2 of his conversation with Eric, Ford said he thinks that's a good start. Thu, 10 Apr 2008 11:00:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/11114 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/11114#When:18:00:00Z The Governor of Wisconsin Wednesday announced his state will ratify a major regional agreement to ban large scale diversions from the Great Lakes. That compact has already been ratified by four other Great Lakes states and two Canadian provinces. However, it has met a formidable stumbling block in Ohio in opposition led by State Senator Tim Grendell. As ideastream's Dan Moulthrop explains, the Chesterland area senator appears ready to end his years of opposition the diversion ban. Wed, 09 Apr 2008 18:00:00 -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/soi/10787 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/soi/10787#When:14:00:00Z Ohio's higher education chancellor calls the universities under his control "the economic driver of the future," and with that in mind Eric Fingerhut is making some sweeping changes. We'll talk to the chancellor about his plans and what effect they'll have on the economic outlook of Ohioans today. Also, we'll hear from some of the local university leaders who will turn his vision into action. It's the futures of higher education and the economy, this morning at 9:00. Tue, 08 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 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/business_roundup/10594 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/business_roundup/10594#When:12:27:01Z There's been a lot of speculation this week about the future of National City Bank. Will it be sold? Who will it be sold to? What would such a deal mean for Cleveland? All valid questions, but right now there's very little that we know for sure. One thing for certain, though: National City is looking for money. Scott Roulston is the CEO of Fairport Asset Management. He joins ideastream's Eric Wellman this morning with a business perspective. Fri, 04 Apr 2008 12:27:01 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/10592 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/10592#When:07:58:00Z Some of the nation's leading economic thinkers have gathered in Cleveland this week to discuss the decline of major cities --- and how to help them grow again. ideastream®'s David C. Barnett has more. Fri, 04 Apr 2008 07:58:00 -0400 http://www.wviz.org/index.php/WVIZ/feagler/10467 http://www.wviz.org/index.php/WVIZ/feagler/10467#When:05:00:01Z A special edition of Feagler & Friends! Guest 1: Mike Roberts, freelance journalist. In 1968, Roberts was a young reporter assigned by The Plain Dealer to cover the war in Vietnam. He arrived there just days before the Tet offensive, a major turning point in two decades of U.S. involvement. Earlier this year, Roberts returned to Vietnam for a first-hand look at the cities and battlefields he’d reported on 40 years earlier. Through words and photographs, he’ll tell us about the trip and about Vietnam where 58,000 Americans died. Guest 2: Karin Maloney Stifler, CFP; president, True Wealth Advisors, LLC. Declining consumer confidence and other bleak signs in the economy have many of us concerned about our own financial future. Will our savings be safe? How can we recession-proof our nest egg? What steps should we take if a layoff appears imminent? We’ll get some tips from veteran financial advisor Karin Maloney Stifler of Hudson, a national board member of the Financial Planning Association. Fri, 04 Apr 2008 05:00:01 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/soi/10436 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/soi/10436#When:17:31:00Z Within the next ten years, more than 14 million Americans could find themselves in green collar employment-- believe it or not, that's comparable to current numbers of manufacturing jobs. The US Green jobs movement is still very young, but cities across the country are finding real job growth there. With talk of a Green City on Blue Lake, local leaders have wanted Cleveland to get on the Green bandwagon--so, what do we have to show for it? And when will we see more growth? Join us for answers, Wednesday morning at 9 on 90.3. Wed, 02 Apr 2008 17:31:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/10437 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/10437#When:10:00:00Z In the recent primary election, there was a lot of talk in Ohio about NAFTA, which is often blamed for sending manufacturing jobs to Mexico. But there's a new report that suggests that the loss of American jobs in the auto industry may be slowing down. It was compiled by the Center for Automotive Research which follows trends in the auto business from Ann Arbor, Michigan. ideastream®'s Eric Wellman spoke to Kristin Dzierzek, a senior project manager who oversaw the report. Wed, 02 Apr 2008 10:00:00 -0400 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/10435 http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/10435#When:07:14:00Z A few dollar's-worth of property may change the face of several Cleveland neighborhoods. Ideastream®'s David C. Barnett has more on some abandoned buildings that are about to be reclaimed. Tue, 01 Apr 2008 07:14:00 -0400