Regional Features: Archive by Date

May 2003

Standoff at Peter B. Lewis Building
Posted Monday, May 12
Police expected to file charges today (Monday May 12th) against a man suspected of killing one person and wounding two others during a shooting spree at Case Western Reserve University. It started Friday afternoon at the Peter B. Lewis Building on University Circle. It ended seven hours later, when the man was cornered by police and FBI swat teams. ideastream's Janet Babin reports.

Small Business Regulations
Posted Monday, May 12
Small business owners pray they never get in trouble with agencies like the Internal Revenue Service and the Environmental Protection Agency. Breaking government rules can lead to costly fines, shut-downs or even jail. President Bush says he wants to help small business owners overcome problems with federal regulations. The administration hopes by being more helpful it will change the image of government agents and foster cooperation instead of fear. It's a tall order because federal inspectors and auditors have a reputation of punishing first and asking questions later. Part of the effort includes an upcoming public hearing in Cleveland. ideastream's Mike West has more.

ideastream Focus on Housing: Affordable Housing Series Kick-Off
Posted Thursday, May 8
At last count, some 45,000 Northeast Ohioans needed assistance finding affordable housing, but many of them didn't get it. Over the next few months, ideastream will be examining the issues surrounding this critical need. The list of those seeking either rental or permanent supportive housing ranges from abused women and children to the mentally ill, and, of course, the poor. This morning, 90.3's Janet Babin outlines the series for us, which will culminate with a one hour, interactive special on WVIZ/PBS.

Euclid Corridor Plan in Jeopardy?
Posted Tuesday, May 6
The future of the Euclid Corridor plan may be in jeopardy. The head of the project to create a transportation corridor from downtown to University Circle resigned last week. There are also new questions over federal funding. In the meantime, a high-profile hotel officially opened its doors within the corridor, despite setbacks with the project. ideastream's Mike West reports.

AFL-CIO Gives Boost to Issue 15
Posted Monday, May 5
Last week the Cleveland AFL-CIO reconsidered its decision to remain neutral regarding the Cuyahoga County Health and Human Services levy up for replacement on May 6th. The tax funds things like child care, in-home care for seniors and other social and medical programs for needy residents, as well as Metrohealth's trauma care center and the emergency airlift service LifeFlight. While AFL-CIO is the late-comer in lending its support, its arrival gives the pro-levy campaign both a symbolic and practical boost, and leaves just one local union voice strongly opposed. ideastream's Bill Rice reports.

Fear of SARS
Posted Monday, May 5
This week, the World Health Organization announced that the global death rate from SARS is rising. Earlier estimates put the risk of dying from sudden acute respiratory syndrome at 6-to-10%. Now the estimate is as high as 15%. While no deaths have occurred in the U.S., people here have been inundated with daily coverage of the outbreak. Two Cleveland cases temporarily alarmed local public health officials and many area residents have changed travel plans to Toronto and Asian cities where SARS has claimed lives. Even Cleveland's Chinatown has suffered a drop in business as people shy away from potential contact with SARS. But local health experts and media watchers say excessive fear of SARS is misplaced. They say normal health precautions - along with public health preparedness - should be enough to keep people in Northeast Ohio safe. ideastream's Karen Schaefer reports.

Making Change: Sustainable Kent
Posted Friday, May 2
With a shaky state budget and Northeast Ohio counties strapped for cash, many cities throughout Ohio are looking for innovative ways to generate funds. The city of Kent is rewriting its comprehensive plan and has turned to sustainable development to reinvent its economy. This means that every initiative in Kent's future must balance economic, environmental and social issues-while not allowing any one aspect to dominate. If it works out, Kent will be the first city in Ohio to officially adopt sustainable development principals. As part of Making Change: Reinventing our Economy, ideastream's Shula Neuman reports on the process and prognosis for Kent's transformation to a sustainable city.

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