Regional Features: Archive by Date

May 2000

Big Plans for the Northcoast Harbor
Posted Wednesday, May 31
While many people consider the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as the crown jewel of the Lake Erie shoreline, there's much more to consider. East of that area is the Port of Cleveland where ships come from all over the world. Thousands are headed for northeast Ohio manufacturing plants to unload tons of steel, iron ore, coal, stone and cement to fuel northeast Ohio's steel mills and electric power plants. But soon there will be more to the port than just the working docks. 90.3's Lorna Jordan reports.

What Price Image?
Posted Tuesday, May 30
A great deal of money and public relations have been spent trying to change Cleveland's image from "the mistake on the Lake" to the "new American city." A high profile building campaign has helped make the city look attractive in Goodyear blimp shots to the rest of the country. But are we getting our money's-worth? 90.3's David C. Barnett investigates the cost, and the value, of an image.

Seniors Fight City Over Upkeep of Homes
Posted Thursday, May 25
While many senior citizens dream of relaxing during their golden years, some in Cleveland are worried about whether they'll be fined or jailed for not fixing up their homes. 90.3's Yolanda Perdomo reports on how some are fighting with the city over the upkeep of their homes.

Safe Boating Week: A Cautionary Tale
Posted Wednesday, May 24
On Memorial Day weekend, thousands of Ohioans hauled their boats out of dry dock and headed to the nearest boat ramp to launch a summer season on the water. Ohio has the eighth-largest number of registered recreational boats in the country. Learning how to sail, fish or race a jet ski can be fun, but mistakes on the water can be deadly. Already this year, eleven Ohio residents have lost their lives in boating accidents. This week officials in both the U.S. and Canada are launching the first North American Safe Boating Week. 90.3's Karen Schaefer reports.

Up in the Air with HDTV: The Price of Turning off Analog and Going Digital
Posted Tuesday, May 23
Almost everyone who owns a television set today is receiving analog signals. But that's changing. The government has ordered broadcasters to switch from analog to digital signals as their method of broadcasting TV shows. That could be a problem for viewers. Consumers are already wondering if digital TV means their current sets will turn into high priced junk. 90.3 WCPN's Mike West focuses in on the issue.

The Newest Population in Conneaut:  Private Prison
Posted Thursday, May 18
The Lake Erie Correctional Institution is only a few months old, but it will be filled to capacity by this summer. The state's newest privately run medium security prison is taking great pains to distance itself from a privately run facility in Youngstown. The legacy of that prison is making some residents view this one with concern. More from 90.3's Yolanda Perdomo.

Use of Common Insecticides Might Be Restricted:  Organophosphates May Cause Health Risks
Posted Wednesday, May 17
The U.S. EPA is considering restricting one of the most widely-used group of insecticides. Organophosphates have been linked to memory loss, nervous system ailments, and other health problems. These compounds account for half of all pesticides sold in the U.S. and are used extensively in homes, schools, businesses, and agriculture. But while many people have pushed for tighter controls, some scientists feel the method of assessing the chemicals' effect is flawed. 90.3's Karen Schaefer has this report.

The Vietnam Memorial: Taking Down Walls
Posted Tuesday, May 16
Most veterans of the Vietnam War came home from a messy conflict overseas to a conflicted country. The protests and derision that greeted them caused many vets to build emotional walls around themselves. 90.3's David C. Barnett reports that, in order to make some sense of their role in the war, some Ohio vets have been able to take some of those walls down...by putting another one up.

The Burden of Borderline Personality Disorder - Part 2
Posted Thursday, May 11
Borderline Personality Disorder is a strange and powerful mental illness that can all but consume its victims. Patients who suffer from this disease not only fear abandonment but often go so far as to mutilate themselves. In the second part of our series on BPD, 90.3's Lorna Jordan takes a look at various treatment methods.

The Burden of Borderline Personality Disorder - Part 1
Posted Wednesday, May 10
Mental Health experts estimate that as much as two percent of the US population suffers from the mental illness known as Borderline Personality Disorder or BPD. It accounts for about one-fifth of the people being treated on psychiatric wards. Women are three times more likely to suffer from this illness as men. Doctors have studied the condition under various names since the 1940's, but they don't know exactly why it develops, nor do they have a cure. Recently, 90.3's Lorna Jordan attended a conference about Borderline Personality Disorder put on by the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill - Cuyahoga County.

Treating Depression in Children and Adolescents
Posted Tuesday, May 9
Twenty years ago, few people realized that children - as well as adults - could suffer from the form of mental illness known as depression. Today childhood depression is widely recognized and its causes better understood. As many as three percent of children and eight percent of adolescents experience the illness, but experts say only a small fraction receive the treatment they need. High costs and the stigma of mental illness are but two of the barriers to proper treatment. Some also argue that one factor may be the inability of parents, pediatricians and educators to recognize the warning signs of depression. 90.3 WCPN, 90.3's Karen Schaefer has this report.

Small Businesses starting their own Political Action Committee
Posted Friday, May 5
Tort reform promises to be one of the top concerns of the new PAC. Ohio's largest Chamber of Commerce is hoping to exercise some political muscle in next fall's election. "The Greater Cleveland Growth Association" is starting it's own political action committee, or PAC. Northeast Ohio business leaders say they took the action because they believe small companies have been "let down" by elected officials who don't always vote with their best interests in mind. Mike West reports.

The Market and The Mission
Posted Monday, May 1
Later this month Cleveland City Council is expected to vote on a renovation project for the historic West Side Market. The Market's a haven for gourmets and bargain hunters alike-offering fresh fruits, vegetables, homemade ethnic food and meats often at bargain prices. The eighty-eight year old building housing the market also plays an important role in the city's cultural life. As planning for the five million dollar project continues, city officials are trying to decide just what the market's mission should be in coming years. 90.3's April Baer reports.