Regional Features: Archive by Date

November 2000

Sick Homes Part One: Combating Poor Air Quality in Homes
Posted Thursday, November 30
Americans are increasingly aware of the health problems created by so-called sick buildings. Indoor air quality in workplaces and public schools is now at least partially regulated by federal and state agencies. But no one is regulating the air quality in your home. Doctors say they're concerned about the recent jump in the number of cases of diseases like asthma that are linked to poor air quality. They're working with government and civic leaders to combat this emerging threat to public health. 90.3's Karen Schaefer reports.

IDEA Celebrates 25 Years: Individuals With Disabilities Education Act Helps Disabled Children
Posted Wednesday, November 29
25 years ago today disabled children around the country celebrated a huge victory. The IDEA, or, Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, was passed, giving disabled children the right to learn in mainstream classrooms. More than two decades later there are still hurdles to overcome. The Ohio Coalition for the Education of Children with Disabilities has been trying to help parents become better advocates for their kids. In a recent meeting, 90.3's Tarice Sims found out what parents and schools need to know to continue the fight for inclusion.

The Debate About Electrofishing: Some Say Dated Technique Harms Fish
Posted Tuesday, November 28
One of the most important tools state wildlife biologists use to assess fish populations is about to change. The technique called electrofishing has been used since World War II to collect fish, then study them. Scientists use an electric current to stun fish so they can be easily caught and handled, then returned to the water. But for several years, an electrofishing controversy's been hatching between fisheries biologists. Instead of counting fish, some say the dated technique is killing them. 90.3's Janet Babin reports.

The Poverty Crisis: Debate About Welfare Program Cuts Continue
Posted Wednesday, November 22
This past October about 2,000 Cuyahoga County residents stopped receiving monthly welfare checks as a result of reforms that limit welfare cash benefits to three years. November brought another round of cutoffs, and still more will lose their benefits in December, January, and so on into 2001. State and county officials embrace welfare reform as a necessary step in promoting self-sufficiency. But others who are opposed to the time limit see it as a setback in the War on Poverty. A group of those advocates met last weekend to take stock of their efforts to improve the lot of the poor. 90.3's Bill Rice reports.

High School Athletes Undergo Improved Physicals: Recent Incidents at Local High Schools a Wake-Up
Posted Monday, November 20
High schools are now taking extra steps to protect their athletes. Doctors, and trainers routinely watch players from the sidelines at many games. "Normal" sports injuries happen all the time - a player may sprain their thumb or ankle, but sometimes the unimaginable happens. Last month two high school football players died during their football games. A few days ago the Summit County Coroner revealed that one of the athletes died because of cardiac arrhythmia. Just two weeks before that, another football player in Cleveland died of a heart attack brought on by a hereditary heart condition. These tragedies left many parents wondering if schools know enough about the health of their students. 90.3's Tarice Sims tells us about the improving health policies in High Schools sports.

Bridging the Digital Divide, Part Two: Information Kiosks
Posted Friday, November 17
In recent years, computer and telecommunications industry giants like Hewlett Packard, Cisco Systems and AT&T have invested millions of dollars in technology grants and free Internet accounts to help bridge the Digital Divide. While cynics might note there's a huge profit to be made from more people getting interested in getting online, many business people believe that a nation lagging behind in computer savvy could lead to economic stagnation. That's one of the reasons behind a new effort to widen public access to the Internet. Coming soon to an airport, truck stop or shopping mall near you - computer kiosks, where anyone can log onto the World Wide Web. 90.3's Karen Schaefer has this report.

Pheasant Hunting to Increase in Ohio
Posted Thursday, November 16
While most people enjoy turkey on Thanksgiving Day, some might be eating pheasants shot on public land. As 90.3's Janet Babin reports, if it weren't for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, many hunters would come up empty handed.

Bridging the Digital Divide, Part One: Community Computing Centers
Posted Thursday, November 16
Ever since the advent of the World Wide Web, pundits have expressed concern that the high cost of computers could widen the gap between rich and poor, leaving some people out of the Information Age. Many efforts have been made to bridge the so-called Digital Divide. Federal programs have brought the Internet into public schools and libraries and White House initiatives have helped create community computing centers, where children and adults can learn to use the new technology. But while government has partnered with business to provide computers, operating costs for computing centers remain a challenge. 90.3's Karen Schaefer has this report.

New Convention Center Concerns: Location, Price Tag, and More Considered in Proposal
Posted Wednesday, November 15
Major city projects typically have their supporters and detractors. The Euclid Corridor upgrade was approved late last summer by an initially skeptical city council, and many Cleveland residents question the wisdom of Mayor Mike White's Lakefront Development initiative. Opposition to construction of a new downtown convention center is not so evident - in fact, support for the idea can be found in most quarters. But there is much division over where a convention center should go, how much it should cost, and how to pay for it. 90.3's Bill Rice reports.

An Alternative to Public Schools: Community School Solution Becoming Reality
Posted Monday, November 6
One of the big issues in this presidential race is education. Many public schools are in crisis throughout the country, including the Cleveland Municipal School system. Three years ago the state legislature came up with a solution. It passed a law creating charter schools now called "community schools" as an alternative to public schools. For the first time since 1997 individuals and private organizations that want to start a community school can apply to the Cleveland School district rather than the state. 90.3's Tarice Sims takes a look at the ongoing debate over the pros and cons of having community schools.