Regional Features: Archive by Date

June 2003

Doctors Take on High Malpractice Insurance Costs
Posted Monday, June 30
The next time you need specialized medical treatment you may not be able to find it. Doctors in Northeast Ohio are demanding help to combat the high cost of doing business. Recently passed tort reform legislation, which went into effect this spring, has not led to lower malpractice insurance premiums. So, doctors are taking their case to the streets. ideastream's Mike West has this report on the growing medical crisis in Ohio.

Cutting Summer School to the Bone
Posted Friday, June 27
In Ohio, when schoolchildren fall behind, school districts are required to take steps to make sure they get back on track. State law prescribes a number remedial measures, such as special tutoring and after school classes. Summer school may also be part of the mix, and is a traditional venue for kids to make-up what they failed during the regular school year. Summer's barely begun, but today in Cleveland, summer school comes to a close. District officials say cuts in the state budget, along with shortfalls in local property tax collections, have forced them to cut the summer program to the bone. ideastream's Bill Rice reports.

ideastream Focus on Housing: What Type of Housing is Needed?
Posted Monday, June 23
Several thousand people in Northeast Ohio have been homeless for more than a year. It's a clear indication that the region has a real need for more affordable housing. But there is debate among advocates about what type of housing is needed most. Some providers say a housing model that assists the long-term homeless with life skills is most important, while others believe the homeless would benefit most from a place where they can pay to stay. ideastream's Janet Babin continues our examination of affordable housing issues.

Election Climate in Strongsville Heats Up
Posted Friday, June 20
As the summer months begin to heat up, so will campaign season. Would-be candidates are exploring possible runs for a variety of seats throughout northeast Ohio. Perhaps the most interesting election climate in the region is the one developing in Strongsville. The city's mayor of 25 years passed away last month. And now, there's only one name on the ballot: a virtual unknown who faces squaring off against some of the city's political veterans. ideastream's Renita Jablonski reports.

Trucker’s Double Life - as a Terrorist?
Posted Friday, June 20
A truck driver from Columbus has pleaded guilty to felony terrorism charges and admitted plots against trains and the Brooklyn Bridge. 34-year-old Iyman Faris is being held in Virginia by federal authorities. He's a native of Kashmir who'd lived in Columbus from 1994 until last winter. Residents of Ohio's capital city have been thunderstruck to learn that an al-Qaeda operative was living in their midst. The details of his life are still emerging. ideastream's April Baer spoke with Columbus Dispatch reporter Jodi Nirode this morning about Faris' apparent double life.

ideastream Focus on Housing: Affordable Housing Call-in Show
Posted Thursday, June 19
Each night dozens of long-term homeless people end up sleeping in makeshift overflow facilities. But by July 1st, they won't even be able to find such minimal shelter. Beginning next month, Cuyahoga County will no longer fund any overflow populations from the men's and women's emergency shelter. Our guests will discuss various options to county-funded overflow programs, including permanent supportive, supportive or pay-to-stay housing.

Making Change: Radio Call-In Show: Building a Sustainable Future
Posted Wednesday, June 18
If you knew that you could run your business so that it helps your community, doesn't harm the environment and increases profits, would you do it? Would you endorse laws that place restrictions on building and zoning codes-if you knew they would boost the region's economy and generally increase your standard of living? Good Morning, I'm Shula Neuman and those are just some of the questions we'll explore today on this special Making Change: Reinventing our Economy call in show-Building a Sustainable Future. We'll be talking with advocates of sustainability-a concept they say can help improve our economy, environment and quality of life-if it's implemented correctly. We also want to hear from you with your ideas and questions about sustainability... So stay tuned for Building a Sustainable Community-- coming up, after the news.

Making Change: Documentary: Contagious but Good for You - Sustainability and NE Ohio’s Economy
Posted Tuesday, June 17
Sustainability is a concept that crosses all aspects of life. There's sustainability as applied to business, as applied to government, and as applied to individuals. Basically, sustainability is an all-encompassing idea that could improve our economy, ecology and social equity. In this documentary, Shula explores the emerging-and innovative-applications of sustainability in Northeast Ohio.

The Latest on Lake Erie’s Dead Zones
Posted Monday, June 16
Last summer, scientists from both sides of Lake Erie - including several from Ohio - conducted extensive research into the reappearance of dead zones. These areas of low oxygen first appeared in the 1970s, when researchers found that too much of the nutrient phosphorus was to blame. One result was massive fish kills and reduced productivity of important Lake Erie fisheries. Last month scientists met in Windsor, Ontario to share their latest research. ideastream's Karen Schaefer reports on what they found and what Congress is doing to help.

Eminent Domain in Lakewood
Posted Friday, June 13
Some Lakewood residents are outraged as the city attempts to force them from their homes. Lakewood City Hall has threatened to use eminent domain laws to take their property and give it to developers for the construction of condominiums and upscale shops. City leaders say they need the development project to increase a stagnant tax base. It's a situation that has thrust Lakewood and eminent domain laws into the national spotlight. ideastream's Mike West reports.

Percent for Arts Legislation
Posted Friday, June 6
Cleveland City Council is preparing to introduce legislation to guarantee the development of art in public places throughout the city. It's the latest effort in the region to use art as a catalyst for economic development. ideastream's Renita Jablonski reports.

ideastream Focus on Housing: Finding More Room For the Long-Term Homeless
Posted Thursday, June 5
It's estimated that 3,800 people in Northeast Ohio have been homeless for at least one year. Housing advocates say if the long-term homeless could find places to live, there would be more room in emergency shelters, and the formerly homeless would find it easier to again contribute to society. Housing advocates and the City of Cleveland have been looking for a place to locate permanent supportive housing facility, but have met with stiff opposition from businesses and community groups. ideastream's Janet Babin reports.

Taking on the Church
Posted Wednesday, June 4
Challenging tradition is one thing. Challenging theology is quite another. Yet there are people and organizations around the world, who for one reason or another, take issue with religion - usually their own. In Cleveland, one such person has waged her own battle against the largest church in America - the 62 million member Holy Roman Catholic Church. But it's not about anything that the church does - it's about what they don't. ideastream's Rick Jackson has this report.

Convention Center Marketing
Posted Tuesday, June 3
An investigation into the spending practices of the Convention and Tourism Bureau is underway. The head of the agency is on leave while auditors pour over the books. They want to find out if money spent on things like sporting events and trips abroad can be justified. The prying eyes of investigators may have come at a bad time. Plans for a new convention are the subject of great debate. Issues of where to put it and how to pay for it are still up in the air. That's why supporters can't afford any financial doubts concerning the CVB. Also at issue, how to fill the new convention center when - and if - it's built. ideastream's Mike West has this report on marketing the new meeting facility.

A Quiet Crisis: Convention Center Marketing
Posted Tuesday, June 3
ideastream’s Mike West has this report on marketing the new meeting facility.

Graduation Rate Discrepancy
Posted Monday, June 2
Of all of the Cleveland School District's many distinctions, perhaps none are less dubious that its record of student success. Cleveland's graduation rate - the most looked-at indicator of any district's effectiveness - is the rock bottom lowest in the state, 38% last year. District officials concede they have a chronic underachievement problem, but they question that 38% figure. They believe the actual graduation rate is considerably higher, and blame the district's own methods of compiling data for the discrepancy. ideastream's Bill Rice reports.