Regional Features: Archive by Date

November 2003

On the Beat: Protecting the Homeless
Posted Wednesday, November 26
Over the summer, a heinous crime perpetrated by four young men from Youngstown illuminated the plight of homeless people to protect themselves on the streets. The teens attacked men sleeping on Public Square with stun guns, videotaping their assault. In August, the Cleveland Police Department assigned an officer to work as a liaison to downtown Cleveland's homeless population, but the officer's new beat might be quashed because of budget cuts. ideastream's Janet Babin followed the officer during one of his first days on the beat.

Interview with Mayor Jane Campbell
Posted Tuesday, November 25
Tuesday morning at 9 a.m., April Baer talks to Mayor Jane Campbell about the budget challenges for the city of Cleveland. Monday (Nov. 24) the Mayor announced 700 city layoffs, focusing largely on the police and fire departments. We'll hear her reasoning Tuesday morning.

From Bush to Bush: An Interview with Don Novello
Posted Tuesday, November 25
What does it take to get a response out of your elected leaders? In the late 70s, writer and humorist Don Novello began writing letters as an experiment in human behavior. In his ruse, he wrote to presidents, corporations, and celebrities under the guise of unrelenting supercitizen Lazlo Toth. Thirty years later, he's still writing. Novello's alter ego is an eternally optimistic citizen, who can't understand why life's problems can't be solved with simple answers. Through the Lazlo Letters, he would engage with public figures as varied as Richard Nixon, Lawrence Welk and Bill Clinton. His latest installment (FROM BUSH TO BUSH: The Lazlo Toth Letters) chronicles the years between Presidents Bush and Bush, 41 and 43. Fresh off his gubernatorial campaign in the great state of California, Don Novello stops in Tuesday morning to talk about poking fun at the news.

Subtle Changes to Catholic Mass Initiated
Posted Tuesday, November 25
Last weekend, nearly a million Catholics in northeast Ohio began celebrating mass with subtle changes. The Cleveland Diocese hopes the modifications will inspire parishioners to do more than just go through the motions. ideastream's Renita Jablonski reports.

Smoking Ban Campaign Kicks Off
Posted Wednesday, November 19
On Thursday, local anti-smoking activists will kick off a campaign urging Cleveland to enact legislation banning smoking in all public places - including bars and restaurants. But as ideastream's Renita Jablonski reports, lawmakers say they're going to take their time to make sure such a ban is right for the city.

Refugee Benefits Cut Off
Posted Monday, November 17
Elderly and disabled refugees arriving in the U.S. often flee their homelands with little but the clothes on their backs. They depend upon limited resources and the federal government to help them survive in their new homeland. But for thousands of refugees, that federal aid is being cut off. That's the case for a couple in Cleveland, who are facing a citizenship deadline. ideastream's Janet Babin reports.

School Funding Question Still Alive in Columbus
Posted Friday, November 14
For more than a decade education activists waged a legal battle to change the way schools are funded in Ohio. The court case commonly known as DeRolph essentially ended in a draw. The Ohio Supreme Court found Ohio's reliance on local property taxes as the primary funding source to be unconstitutional. It then relinquished its jurisdiction over the matter, and neither the republican-controlled legislature nor the governor have shown any inclination to change the tax structure in any significant way. But the funding question is still alive in Columbus, as evidenced in a session at the Ohio School Boards Association's annual conference this week. ideastream's Bill Rice was there.

Prepaid Tuition Suspended in Ohio
Posted Thursday, November 13
Prepaid tuition plans offer families a chance to pay today's prices for tomorrow's tuition. But rising costs, tighter budgets and declining investments are forcing states with prepaid tuition plans to increase costs or even suspend programs altogether. The changes are leaving many families without college fund safety nets. Ohio is the latest state to suspend its prepaid option. ideastream's Janet Babin reports.

Making Change:  If You Can’t Be An Athlete, Part 2: Row Your Boat
Posted Wednesday, November 12
For all the disagreements on how to encourage economic development in Northeast Ohio, everyone seems to agree on one point: get more people to live in downtown Cleveland. City officials and business leaders alike point out the link between a larger downtown population, retention of young professionals and potential for business growth. As part of Making Change: Reinventing Our Economy, ideastream's Shula Neuman reports on how one group's hopes for a single boathouse could be a trigger to helping downtown grow.

Restoring the Mississippi, Part 2: Recreating Wetlands in the Midwest
Posted Tuesday, November 11
A new partnership between Ohio and Louisiana aims to shrink so-called "dead zones" in the Gulf of Mexico. These dead zones are caused by too much fertilizer running off Midwestern farms into the Mississippi River watershed. The plan is to restore wetlands in the Midwest. Scientists say the project could ultimately benefit everyone - clearing up dead zones, reducing flooding, and bringing cleaner drinking water to millions of Ohioans. In this second of a two-part report on restoring the Mississippi River, ideastream's Karen Schaefer reports on what's being considered to create 24 million acres of wetlands in the Mississippi basin.

Restoring the Mississippi, Part 1: Reducing Dead Zones in Louisiana’s Gulf Coast
Posted Monday, November 10
The Gulf Coast of Louisiana provides the nation with more shrimp, oysters and fish than anywhere outside Alaska. It also serves as the conduit for Gulf port trade on the Mississippi River. Without the ports of Baton Rouge and New Orleans, foreign grain markets would be out of reach for many Ohio farmers. But in recent years, the Mississippi has also channeled excess nutrients from Midwestern farms straight into the Gulf, creating a dead zone the size of Massachusetts. Related loss of coastal wetlands is threatening to swamp Louisiana ports. Scientists say the best solution may be massive restoration of wetlands in Ohio and other Midwestern states. In this first of a two-part report, ideastream's Karen Schaefer acquaints us with the scope of the problem.

Rodney Crowell Reloads
Posted Wednesday, November 5
Web Exclusive - What happens when a commercially successful country songwriter FINALLY gets to write what he wants? Grammy award winner Rodney Crowell answers that question with the 17th release of his career, Fate's Right Hand. He's coming to town for a Saturday night show at the Beachland Ballroom. ideastream's April Baer spoke with him earlier in the week, and has this profile.

No to Issue 47
Posted Wednesday, November 5
Turnout at the polls was high in Lakewood where voters ousted incumbent Madelaine Cain and said no to a controversial development project. But as ideastream's Renita Jablonski reports, the issue is far from resolved.

Domestic Partner Registry Passes
Posted Wednesday, November 5
In Cleveland Heights, voters approved Ohio's first domestic partner registry that will give recognition to unmarried couples, including gay and lesbian pairs. The unofficial tally was 55% in favor, 45% opposed. ideastream's Janet Babin reports.

Changes For Parma
Posted Wednesday, November 5
Voters in Parma had their share of decisions to make in yesterday's election. As ideastream's Shula Neuman reports, the voice of the people was loud and clear.