Prosecutors Lay Out Dimora Indiscretions

Prosecutors Roll up Sleaze at Dimora Trial
Week two of the corruption trial of former Cuyahoga County Commissioner Jimmy Dimora brought the most titillating testimony to date. Witnesses told of arranging gambling trips and the services of prostitutes for Dimora. An FBI agent told of a female public employee trading sex for a job. A former county employee said Dimora accepted a cash bribe from another job seeker.

County Development Fund
Cuyahoga County government this week initiated a key facet of its development strategy. A $100 million fund will provide money for a host of loan programs aimed at enticing business to set up shop. Repaid loans will seed further loans.

Arts Backers Prepare for Tax Renewal
For the past four years smokers countywide have paid a 30-cent-per- pack tax on cigarettes with the money diverted to local arts organizations. Since the tax’s inception, tens of millions have gone to organizations such as the Cleveland Orchestra, the Museum of Art and ideastream as well as to a host of smaller groups. Cuyahoga Arts and Culture is already strategizing a return to the ballot in late 2015.

State of the Union
President Obama used his State of the Union address to renew his call for higher taxes on the wealthy. What’s being called the ‘Buffett tax’ would hit the wealthiest Americans with a minimum 30% income tax. He also called for tax breaks to benefit companies creating jobs in the United States. Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels in the Republican response said Obama is not to blame for the nation’s weak economy but has failed to deliver on promises to fix it.

Pain, Still a National Problem: Dr. Richard W. Rosenquist, director of the Cleveland Clinic’s Pain Management department
More than a third of Americans suffer from chronic pain. For many it’s debilitating and many fail to get relief even after they’ve consulted a doctor. We’ll examine the reasons pain remains a scourge despite modern medical advances and discuss the prospects for relief of an age-old problem. This segment is part of a week of ideastream coverage entitled Body in Pain.