Regional Features: Archive by Date

May 2002

Joan Southgate Comes Home
Posted Friday, May 31
The 73-year-old Cleveland woman who walked 350 miles across Ohio along the Underground Railroad arrived back home last week. 90.3 WCPN's Karen Schaefer tagged along on the final leg of her trek.

Is Your Job Killing You?
Posted Thursday, May 30
Experts at the Psychosomatic Medicine Journal say having a boring job can kill you. According to a national report released last week, the less control you have over your work can contribute to anxiety and stress that can take over your life. One psychologist at the Cleveland Clinic admits nearly 80% of patient complaints are related to stress. But all too often people don't take care of the anxiety mostly because they don't know how. 90.3 WCPN's Tarice Sims reports on methods of treating stress on the job and why people need to address anxiety sooner than later.

School Facilities
Posted Thursday, May 30
School construction projects come and go, but Cleveland's Issue 14 schools upgrade is the biggest Ohio has ever seen. More than a billion dollars will be spent - not just giving some old buildings a facelift, but completely rebuilding the district from the ground up. That prospect has generated excitement and renewed hope in many Cleveland neighborhoods. But one part of the deal doesn't sit well with some residents, and debate over it has been so heated as to delay completion of the plan. Now, school board members are down to the wire, with difficult decisions yet to be made. 90.3's Bill Rice reports.

Footing the Health Care Bill For Steel Retirees
Posted Wednesday, May 29
Thousands of Ohio steel workers now find themselves without health insurance. At least three Northeast steel makers have gone broke over the past year. That's left retirees searching for affordable coverage. Some political leaders recently launched a controversial effort to pay for premiums, but that failed. The issue has called into question exactly who is responsible for their medical care. 90.3 WCPN's Mike West examines the problem.

Soul Power
Posted Friday, May 24
MeShell NdegeOcello is one of the biggest stars you'll never hear on the radio. While not a staple on any commercial radio format, she's carved out a dedicated following with ground-breaking neo-soul records like Plantation Lullabies, Peace Beyond Passion, and Bitter. Your first listen to her music may startle you - her sound is a breathtaking funk-jazz fusion, layered with edgy songwriting, and a voice that could melt stones. Last week, NdegeoCello made a tour stop in Cleveland; her new record comes out June 1st. 90.3 WCPN's April Baer talks to this maverick artist about her world travels, her unapologetically political approach to songwriting, and her new CD, Cookie: the Anthropological Mix Tape.

Looking for Leadership: County Mental Health Board Tries to Make a Hire
Posted Friday, May 24
Mental Health Services have traditionally held a precarious position in Cuyahoga County. The county's mental health board is subject to a complex set of rules governing the services it can provide, and how those services can be funded. The board is trying to find a new executive director, and has, in the process, run into a political dispute. While the situation is uncertain, some within the system hope it may be a jumping off point for improvement. As part of 90.3 WCPN's observation of mental health month, April Baer has this report on the search.

Wild Oats Closes
Posted Thursday, May 23
The renovated shops at Shaker Square on Cleveland's East Side might be in for some rough times. One of the shopping center's anchor stores is closing, and the other is looking to lease a portion of its space. 90.3 WCPN's Janet Babin reports.

A Quiet Crisis: The Value of Local Artists
Posted Thursday, May 23
An arts summit a few weeks ago has spurred some additional interest in Cleveland area artists.

Concerns Over LTV Pellet Terminal
Posted Wednesday, May 22
Lorain residents are eagerly anticipating the move of the iron-ore pellet terminal that will be taken apart and reassembled in Cleveland, already planning the re-development of the city's waterfront. Meanwhile, some Clevelanders still want answers about where the old LTV terminal will end up once it gets here and how it will affect the environment. 90.3 WCPN's Renita Jablonski reports.

Underground Railroad Walker
Posted Tuesday, May 21
On April 2, 73-year-old Joan Southgate set out to walk 439 miles from Ripley on the Ohio River to her home in the Glenville neighborhood of Cleveland. Her path traces some of the routes taken by fugitive slaves escaping to freedom before the Civil War through a secret network of hiding places known as the Underground Railroad. But what began as an intensely personal journey has become an adventure shared by thousands of school children across the state. Like the escaping slaves, Joan Southgate has proved that ordinary people can still accomplish extraordinary things. 90.3 WCPN's Karen Schaefer has this report.

Out Of Faith - Part 2: Jewish & Gay
Posted Friday, May 17
The creation of community is a basic function of organized religion, allowing people to set aside personal differences and focus on common beliefs. But sometimes there are members of the congregation who feel silently separate. A new film has reinvigorated an old conversation about Jewish identity as reflected in a controversial piece of scripture. 90.3 WCPN's David C. Barnett prepared this report.

Out Of Faith - Part 1: Catholic & Gay
Posted Friday, May 17
Stories of clergy members sexually abusing parishioners have fueled a high profile scandal for the Catholic church, but they've also renewed an older controversy. Gay Catholics are protesting recent statements by members of the church hierarchy in regard to the presence of homosexuals in the clergy. 90.3 WCPN's David C. Barnett reports.

Waning Activity Hinders Port of Cleveland
Posted Thursday, May 16
The Port of Cleveland is a trade link to the rest of the world and was the foundation of its trade and prosperity. But the image of Cleveland as a busy port city is waning. It's the third largest port on the Great Lakes but shipping statistics are down. That's why some industry leaders are questioning the role and the future of the port. 90.3 WCPN's Mike West has this report.

Living With Lou Gehrig’s Disease
Posted Wednesday, May 15
The illness known as Lou Gehrig's disease first gained the attention of the public when the New York Yankee legend came down with it in the 1930s. The debilitating disease forced him to retire in 1939 and proved fatal just two years later. All this month the health community is focusing on educating the public about Lou Gehrig's disease - also known as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Those who live with ALS are finding new ways to cope with the physical and mental complications. But despite new strides those who deal with the illness everyday obstacles remain, not just for patients but for caregivers as well. 90.3 WCPN's Tarice Sims reports.

Guitarmageddon In Cleveland
Posted Tuesday, May 14
This past weekend the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame hosted a national event that may have missed the radar screens of most city tourism brokers. The "Guitarmageddon" Grand Finals amateur guitar contest isn't exactly on a par with the Van Cliburn or Tchaikovski competitions - it's mostly a marketing and promotions tool for a national instrument retailer. But for the eight regional winners who faced off for the finals at the Rock Hall Saturday night, it was an event to remember. 90.3's Bill Rice reports.

Cutting Down DCFS Expenses: Large Task Ahead For Children & Family Services
Posted Friday, May 10
With County Commissioners demanding that all county agency's balance their budgets to help fix a $56 million deficit, the Department of Children and Family Services has a large task ahead. This week (5/6), DCFS officials held special meetings to determine how to cut down on expenses without having to cut back on services. As 90.3 WCPN's Renita Jablonski reports, the department's need to re-evaluate the way it operates may actually be a blessing in disguise.

Lewis Center Re-Visited
Posted Tuesday, May 7
Two years ago, Oberlin College opened a new building that's a radical departure from typical classroom architecture. Designed as a living laboratory of energy-efficiency and sustainable building techniques, the Adam Joseph Lewis Center for Environmental Studies has been turning heads ever since. The building has won two national awards for its innovative design, which features a rooftop solar array and a biological wastewater treatment system. But one man - himself an Oberlin College professor - says the Lewis Center's design is seriously flawed. He says the building can't deliver on its promise of high performance. 90.3 WCPN's Karen Schaefer reports.

Issue 10 - The Port Authority Levy
Posted Monday, May 6
Tuesday, May 7th, is Primary Day in Ohio, and one of the few regional issues on the ballot involves a little-known agency that wields a lot of power. The Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority is asking for a five-year renewal of its .13 mill levy. The levy campaign has both powerful allies and detractors. 90.3 WCPN's April Baer reports.

Kent Townspeople Recall the Events of May 1970
Posted Friday, May 3
90.3 WCPN's David C. Barnett spoke with three long-time residents of Kent, Ohio who recalled the events leading up the killing of four students on the Kent State University Campus.

New Park Possibilities in Cleveland’s Flats District (5/4/02)
Posted Thursday, May 2
The Ohio Canal Corridor continues planning for the Canal Basin Park Project. This weekend two teams of landscape architects will present design ideas for review by the canal Basin steering committee. The public is invited to the presentation, which will be held at 2:00 PM Saturday, May 4th at Cleveland State University's Levin College of Urban Affairs, 1717 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland. 90.3 WCPN's David C. Barnett conducted an interview with one of the presenting architects, Ignacio, Bunster Ossa.

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