Sat, 31 Jul 2010 08:00:00 -0400

Obama Attempts Jump Start In Detroit

President Obama went to Michigan on Friday, the "ground zero" of the recession, to kick off a campaign highlighting the turnaround in the U.S. auto industry.

Sat, 31 Jul 2010 08:00:00 -0400

Alternative Energy And Ideas For The Auto Industry

The long-term recovery of the U.S. auto industry will depend largely on American automotive creativity and innovation. Many industry watchers expect a new fleet of electric and hybrid cars to help buoy the U.S. car industry's comeback. Guest host Jacki Lyden talks with Ray Wert, editor-in-chief of Jalopnik.com, about the restructured U.S. auto industry and the importance of design innovation and creativity.

Fri, 30 Jul 2010 16:54:00 -0400

Chrysler To Add Jobs, Save Michigan Factory

Chrysler Group LLC said Friday that it will add nearly 900 jobs at a factory in suburban Detroit and spare it from a planned closure. The decision is a show of optimism that consumers will embrace the company's refurbished midsize sedans.

Fri, 30 Jul 2010 15:00:00 -0400

Atlanta Homeless Shelter Faces Eviction

Atlanta's largest homeless shelter is going into foreclosure, which may force hundreds of homeless men back on to the streets. Some say the foreclosure is a conspiracy.

Fri, 30 Jul 2010 15:00:00 -0400

Obama Defends Bailout Of Auto Industry

President Obama visits auto plants in Detroit to tout the contributions the industry bailout made to the economy's recovery.

Fri, 30 Jul 2010 11:30:00 -0400

Cities, Websites And Hotels At Odds Over Taxes

Online travel companies such as Orbitz and Expedia don't believe they need to collect taxes on the full amount they charge for hotel rooms. This has led to a big lobbying fight in Congress and dozens of lawsuits nationwide.

Fri, 30 Jul 2010 08:36:00 -0400

Pace Of The Nation's Economic Recovery Slows

U.S. growth slowed to a 2.4 percent rate in the second quarter, the weakest pace in nearly a year. That compares with the upwardly revised 3.7 percent increase in the first quarter of this year.

Fri, 30 Jul 2010 11:15:00 -0400

Optimism Revs Up At GM, Chrysler Plants

President Obama visits GM and Chrysler auto plants in Detroit on Friday to call attention to the successes -- so far -- of the bailed-out companies. A White House report says the industry has added 55,000 jobs, GM will stay open during its usual two-week summer shutdown and Chrysler added another production shift.

Fri, 30 Jul 2010 04:00:00 -0400

Is Auto Recovery Here To Stay?

President Obama on Friday wants to call attention to the successes of the bailed-out companies by visiting automakers in Michigan. Micheline Maynard, who has covered the industry for more than two decades, discusses whether or not the good news in Detroit will last.

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 22:55:00 -0400

Foreclosure Rescue Scams Target Latino Families

Latino communities are being especially hard hit by foreclosure rescue scams that target those who've fallen behind in their mortgage payments and whose homes are in danger of foreclosure. Massachusetts is one of a handful of states that are fighting back with anti-fraud laws.

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 15:10:00 -0400

Budget Crunch Hits Atlantic City Hard

State and local governments have cut 242,000 jobs since the summer of 2008, and that number is expected to grow as many states face massive deficits. Atlantic City is trying to shore up its finances by firing cops and city workers. Nationwide, these layoffs are causing a drag on the economy.

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 14:39:00 -0400

Foreclosures Rise In 3 Of 4 Metro Areas

While it appears foreclosures may have peaked in metropolitan areas that were initially the worst hit, the crisis is now becoming much more widespread.

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 10:22:00 -0400

Mortgage Rates Hit Another Low: 4.54 Percent

Mortgage rates dropped to the lowest level on record for the fifth time in six weeks, making homebuying and refinancing the most attractive in decades for those who can get loans. Freddie Mac says the average rate for 30-year fixed loans this week was 4.54 percent, down from 4.56 last week. That's the lowest since Freddie Mac began tracking rates in 1971.

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 08:31:00 -0400

New Weekly Jobless Claims Decline To 457,000

Initial claims for unemployment benefits fell last week for the third time in four weeks but remain elevated. The Labor Department says first-time claims for unemployment insurance dropped by 11,000 to a seasonally adjusted 457,000. Analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters had expected a smaller drop.

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 04:00:00 -0400

Bush-Era Tax Cuts Examined

Tax cuts enacted in 2001 and 2003 are to expire in January unless Congress renews some or all of them. The cost of extending them by a decade: nearly $3 trillion. David Wessel, economics editor of The Wall Street Journal, offers his insight.

United Way 211

United Way's 211/First Call For Help is a free and confidential information service ready to direct you to the health and human services you need in Cuyahoga, Geauga and Medina Counties.

Just dial 2-1-1. Professional staff are available to help you 24 hours a day, every day.

More resources

Save the Dream

The American dream of home ownership is disappearing during these times of crisis. In Ohio, rising unemployment, loss of business, and a bleak economic outlook also threaten that dream.

Help is available. Save the Dream provides information and highlights programs that Ohioians can use to help save the dream of owning a home.

More resources

Upcoming Events

ESOP Partners with Area Suburbs to Help Homeowners

Two additional suburbs will hold local intake sessions, in partnership with ESOP (Empowering & Strengthening Ohio’s People), to provide FREE foreclosure prevention counseling to area homeowners. This initiative builds on ESOP’s track record of making its highly successful foreclosure counseling practices more readily available in Cuyahoga County suburbs.  ESOP already provides intakes in South Euclid and Lakewood.

Starting Feb. 4, 2010, trained counselors from ESOP will also set up shop once a week in Bedford Heights and Garfield Heights. Please see below for more detailed information on the time and location of these new intake sessions. Homeowners do not have to be city residents but MUST call or email ESOP to set up an appointment.

Bedford Heights, Every Wednesday at 6 p.m.
Jimmy Dimora Community Center, 5615 Perkins Road, Bedford Heights, OH 44146

Garfield Heights, Every Thursday at 1 p.m.
Word of Righteousness Family Life Center, 13455 Dressler Avenue, Garfield Heights, Ohio 44125

To make an appointment or for more information, please call ESOP at 216-361-0718 or email .

ABOUT ESOP:
ESOP is a HUD-certified housing counseling agency. ESOP’s success stems from partnerships with various lenders and servicers, allowing for easy negotiation of loan modifications. ESOP has been nationally and internationally recognized for its campaigns against predatory lenders and for its success obtaining mortgage resolutions that keep families in their homes.

More events

Funding

Funding for the coverage of economy and jobs topics comes from The Cleveland Foundation; The George Gund Foundation; The Kelvin and Eleanor Smith Foundation; The Nord Family Foundation; The Bruening Foundation; The Community Foundation for Lorain County; and The Charter One Foundation.