Regional Features: Archive by Date

April 2000

Perspectives of Cuban Life
Posted Friday, April 28
The uneasy politics that mark the US and Cuban relationship also color the Elian Gonzalez story. To understand some of the strident actions by some Cuban Americans in Miami, you need look no further than Cuyahoga county. 90.3's Yolanda Perdomo profiles one Clevelander's journey to the US from Cuba, to see how his views of this case are shaped by his experience decades ago.

Shipping Challenges on the Lake Erie
Posted Wednesday, April 26
Unusually low levels of water in Lake Erie are causing some trouble for ships that carry iron ore, coal, sand and other industrial products to ports in the Great Lakes. Scientists don't know exactly what to blame for the low levels. But that's not important to shippers. They just want to move their cargo without losing money. 90.3's Lorna Jordan reports.

Joining Forces Under Electric Deregulation
Posted Friday, April 21
Next January, a new state law could give Ohio residents a chance to choose their electric company. Backers of the plan believe deregulation will bring new competition and drive down prices, particularly for residential customers. Some communities are interested in pooling their buying power, with the hope of purchasing cheaper electricity. But details this week on FirstEnergy's deregulation plan has some consumer activists worried that residential customers may not reap the savings they've been promised. 90.3's Karen Schaefer has this report.

Native American Mascots
Posted Thursday, April 20
The use of Native Americans for team names and insignias has been the focus of protests for many years. Most recently, those demonstrations have made their way to the courts....as activists sought to prohibit the use of Native Americans icons in professional and amateur sports. 90.3's Yolanda Perdomo reports on the continuing controversy and what people on both sides of the issue are doing to address it.

Hi-Tech Hotels:  The Great “Plug-In” to Vacant Downtown Office Space
Posted Tuesday, April 18
Some Cleveland buildings that have spent years, even decades gathering dust, are now finding new life. Many are becoming part of the high tech building boom. But the phenomenon could eventually drive up the cost of doing business for everyone who operates downtown. 90.3's Mike West checks into the accommodations at these high-tech hotels.

The Sam Sheppard Trial 2000: The Verdict
Posted Wednesday, April 12
After a little more than three hours of deliberations, the jurors in the Sam Sheppard Civil Trial have returned a decision. And for the second time in the history of this case, the jury has ruled that Dr. Sam Sheppard may have been guilty of his wife's murder. Based on the preponderance of the evidence, at least six of the eight person jury determined that Dr. Sheppard was rightfully incarcerated for Marilyn's murder in 1954. 90.3's Yolanda Perdomo has the story.

The Voinovich EPA Bill
Posted Tuesday, April 11
Ohio Senator George Voinovich says when it comes to enforcing the Clean Air Act, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is too cavalier with taxpayer dollars. Voinovich has introduced a bill in Washington that would force the EPA to do a cost-benefit analysis before it imposes new air regulations. Conservation groups say his bill is an attempt to take the teeth out of a landmark environmental law. 90.3's Ley Garnett reports.

Individual Development Accounts: A Unique Cleveland Program
Posted Tuesday, April 11
Cleveland is home to a unique program which helps low to moderate income people save money. Working for Empowerment through Community Organizing, or WECO, is sponsoring an initiative called the Individual Development Accounts or IDAs. They are savings accounts which can be used as a down payment on a house, for business support, or tuition. 90.3's Lorna Jordan reports that WECO is trying to recruit more than 500 people for the program.

The Sam Sheppard Trial 2000: Journalist Roundtable
Posted Monday, April 10
90.3's Yolanda Perdomo has been covering the trial, and will discuss the 2000 proceedings with fellow reporters who also followed the case. Joining Yolanda will be John Hagen, a reporter from the Cleveland Plain Dealer, Belinda Prinz, a reporter from WJW-TV FOX 8, and Jim Neff, an ex-Plain Dealer reporter and former Ohio State University journalism professor who has been researching the Sheppard story for the last 10 years for his upcoming book "Chasing the Fugitive". They'll be discussion the facets of this civil trial, as well as what the jury will use to make their decision. Aired April 10, 2000.

Drifting Smog
Posted Tuesday, April 4
Last month a federal appeals court upheld the authority of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to impose tougher clean-air standards. Ohio is among a handful of Midwestern and Southern states that has joined forces with electric utilities and other smokestack industries to fight the regulations, claiming they are too expensive and unnecessary. The EPA and private environmental groups say a crackdown is needed because air pollution from the Midwest is so extensive that it is even fouling states on the east coast. 90.3's Ley Garnett reports that both sides are locked in legal battles.

April’s Fools 2000
Posted Saturday, April 1
If you didn't get enough of our bad jokes on the air, and would like to use the jokes you heard today at your next party (pluh-leeze), click here for transcripts and the audio for all of April's Fools! Happy April Fools Day, by the way!