Regional Features: Archive by Date

June 2000

Safety in the Gay & Lesbian Community
Posted Thursday, June 29
More than 7,500 people from around Ohio made their way to Cleveland last weekend for the area's 12th annual gay pride celebration. For some in the gay and lesbian community, coming out to a celebration of their sexual preference can also leave them vulnerable to those who disagree with their lifestyle. 90.3's Yolanda Perdomo reports on safety issues affecting that community.

Sexual Versus Spiritual Identity: Churches Address Issues of Gender Orientation
Posted Monday, June 26
The ouster of a gay Ohio Methodist cleric this month was the first incident in what may be a controversial summer of soul searching for several mainline Christian denominations. Following the United Methodist Church's recent affirmation that homosexuality was incompatible with Christian teaching, the Presbyterian and Episcopal churches are about to address issues of gender orientation at their general conferences. 90.3's David C. Barnett reports.

Northeast Ohio Arts and Culture Plan - Live Call-in Show
Posted Wednesday, June 21
From 7 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, June 21st, 2000, Tom Schorgl, President of the Community Partnership for Arts and Culture, fielded calls from listeners and from 90.3 WCPN host David Kanzeg about the Partnership's development Plan for Northeast Ohio Arts and Culture.

Untangling the Knot of Welfare Reform
Posted Tuesday, June 20
Welfare reform is fast approaching its three-year anniversary here in Ohio. That means those for whom public assistance has been a way of life for many years are running out of time. Reforms adopted in October, 1997 limit cash benefits to three years, and people who have received consecutive monthly welfare checks since then will no longer be eligible. What's more, that's a lifetime limit, meaning that they'll never be eligible for cash assistance again, unless the law is reversed. Cuyahoga County officials are stepping up efforts to help those remaining long term recipients make the transition from welfare to work - hopefully before the deadline arrives. That's not an easy task, as 90.3 WCPN's Bill Rice explains.

Do Your Homework Before Doing Your Home Work
Posted Tuesday, June 20
Summer often signals that it's time to hire strangers to do home remodeling projects, landscaping and other seasonal jobs. Home improvement horror stories are not unusual, making the hiring of a contractor or even a handyman a cause for concern. Before you spend your money the experts agree you should do your homework. But who can you trust, and how much is it worth for the information? 90.3's Mike West investigates.

Cleveland Police Candidates Held in Waiting:  Problems with Candidate Testing Hinder Process
Posted Monday, June 19
The spectre of scandal surrounding a Cleveland civil service exam continues to lurk at City Hall, even though historic hearings into the matter are over. A Cleveland City Council committee has spent several days trying to get to the bottom of problems that have kept over two thousand prospective police candidates in limbo for over a year and a half. This week, council leaders are trying to decide what action, if any, to take in the matter. 90.3's April Baer reports.

Pelee Island Ferry Strike
Posted Friday, June 16
Pelee Island, Canada in the western basin of Lake Erie is considered by many to be a natural paradise. Still largely undeveloped, the island - with its astounding wildlife, wine-making heritage, and close-knit community - is a growing tourist destination for Americans weary of miniature golf, McDonald's, and Mickey Mouse. This year had promised to be especially prosperous for Pelee's 275 year-round residents. But a recently-ended ferry strike nearly cost the island its livelihood. 90.3's Karen Schaefer has this report.

Amish Teens and Drinking:  Promoting Awareness of Alcohol in the Amish Community
Posted Thursday, June 15
Ohio is home to some of the largest Amish communities in the world. While the population is growing, so is a problem that until recently was not discussed publicly. Law enforcement and bishops from Amish churches are banding together to educate teens about drinking - but as 90.3's Yolanda Perdomo reports, the rite of passage to the church for some may come through using drugs and alcohol.

Tripping the Light Financial:  Professional Dance Funding Shrinking
Posted Monday, June 12
The world of dance has made headlines recently, both nationally and internationally, due to economic and management problems. Northeast Ohio's dance community has had it own share of financial woes. The Cleveland San Jose Ballet and the Akron-based Ohio Ballet are local troupes with national reputations. Still, they have troubles filling seats back home, leaving some to wonder about the viability of professional dance in an era of dwindling funding. 90.3's David C. Barnett reports.

Big Box Stores
Posted Friday, June 9
First it was strip shopping centers, then came malls. Today a number of America's surviving downtown business districts are fighting off a new threat - the presence of major retailers and so-called big box stores that spring up in former cornfields, surrounded by seas of asphalt parking lots. Some communities in states like Vermont have tried to fight off the big chains, while others have accepted the inevitability of a Wal-Mart or Target in their towns. But in the small college town of Oberlin, people are creating new partnerships they hope will keep Main Street vital. 90.3's Karen Schaefer has this report.

Helping Children Cope with Effects of Violence
Posted Wednesday, June 7
It's estimated that by the age of 18, young people will have viewed near 200,000 acts of violence on television. While the ensuing trauma is handled by the police and victims, a child who witnesses the violence in person could have problems that extend beyond the shock of the initial shock. 90.3's Yolanda Perdomo reports on a county program that's helping children who witness violence overcome its traumatic effects.

On-line Businesses Boosted by E-Com Ohio
Posted Tuesday, June 6
Northeast Ohio has long been known as an industrial center. But times are changing, and the new economy has government, business and education leaders wondering where the area will stand on the information super highway. The results of a year long study show the state has a long way to go in catching up with many other parts of the country. Mike West reports.

John Brown and the Underground Railroad in Hudson
Posted Friday, June 2
In the years before the Civil War, runaway slaves seeking freedom in Canada were often assisted on their journey by a secret network known as the Underground Railroad. While people in many states participated in this network, nowhere is the history of that effort better known - or documented - than in Ohio. 90.3's Karen Schaefer has this report.