Regional Features: Archive by Date

December 2006

Folk Music Store Closing
Posted Friday, December 29
The new year brings the end of a Cleveland institution. ideastream's David C. Barnett has more on the closing of a popular folk music store, known as Goose Acres.

Term Limits Frustrating to Lawmakers
Posted Thursday, December 28
A provision of the Ohio Constitution that took hold more than a decade ago may get some renewed attention in the coming year. Legislative term limits, which were approved with enthusiasm by voters in 1992, are falling into some disfavor with lawmakers - from both sides of the aisle. ideastream's Bill Rice reports.

Foreclosure Series: Attorney General Marc Dann Interview
Posted Thursday, December 28
The Cuyahoga County Clerk's office says by the end of 2006, there will be nearly 11,500 foreclosure filings - most from people who have lost their homes because they can't keep up with their mortgage payments. It's a statewide problem, and experts say part of the blame goes to predatory lenders - that small subset of lenders who trick people into fraudulent loan deals. ideastream's Mhari Saito spoke with incoming Attorney General Marc Dann, who says he plans to make cracking down on predatory lenders one of his top priorities.

Schools and Teachers Union to Meet
Posted Wednesday, December 27
The Cleveland Schools and the Cleveland Teachers Union will go to the bargaining table in January. As ideastream's Lisa Ann Pinkerton reports, both parties hope to spend the six months negotiating long term priorities, rather than bickering over individual issues.

New Trials for Convicted Murderers
Posted Wednesday, December 27
Two convicted murderers in Portage County may be getting a new trial 18 years after the crime was committed. The Ohio Supreme Court Tuesday has ruled that the two men who were convicted in the rape and murder of 31-year-old Connie Nardi did not get fair trials. ideastream's Mark Urycki reports.

DeWine Term Ending
Posted Wednesday, December 27
The term of Republican Ohio Senator Mike DeWine ends in a few days. In the fall, democratic Avon Congressman Sherrod Brown defeated the two-term senator in one of the toughest senate contests in the country. DeWine's moved back to his home near Cedarville in Greene County. But if he has his way, the senator won't stray far from politics. Chad Pergram reports from Capitol Hill.

Possible Savings for Schools on Health Insurance Collaboration
Posted Tuesday, December 26
A recent report suggests Ohio's school districts could save millions of dollars in healthcare costs if they collaborate on health insurance plans. ideastream's Lisa Ann Pinkerton reports.

Cleveland Council on World Affairs: Alan Tonelson Presentation
Posted Friday, December 22
Manufacturing and international trade policy: What is in our best interest? The Cleveland Council on World Affairs addressed this question in a presentation by Alan Tonelson, Research Fellow, United States Business and Industry Council.

Colo Turns 50
Posted Friday, December 22
Colo is celebrating her 50th birthday today. Now that wouldn't be too remarkable, except for the fact that Colo is a gorilla - and gorillas typically don't live 50 years. She is the first Gorilla born in captivity and lives at the Columbus Zoo. Joining us on the line from the zoo's ape house is Debby Ames, Colo's keeper.

Free Nicotine Patches for Non-Insured
Posted Friday, December 22
Clevelanders without health insurance will get some assistance obtaining nicotine patches to help them quit smoking. The Cleveland Clinic and the City of Cleveland are teaming up to provide the patches for free. ideastream's Mark Urycki reports.

All Eyes on Akron Art Museum
Posted Thursday, December 21
The city of Akron is getting a lot of attention lately, and it has nothing to do with rock bands, or the Soap Box Derby, or the Bridgestone Invitational Golf Tournament. It's the Akron Art Museum. A design magazine in England, an architecture magazine in Korea, construction magazines, art websites, Newsweek: they're all following the progress of the building now under construction in the city's downtown. ideastream's Mark Urycki looks at what all the fuss is about.

Paying the Rent with Street Music
Posted Thursday, December 21
Maurice Reedus Jr. doesn't want you to call him a panhandler. A familiar figure in downtown Cleveland, he has the requisite box sitting next to him on the sidewalk, waiting for your contribution, but he gives you something in return. ideastream's David C. Barnett produced this profile of a man who pays his rent with street music.

The Sensitive Santa
Posted Thursday, December 21
This holiday season, there have been several Santa sightings at malls across Northeast Ohio. Children are lured by the tinsel and toys, the elves the bells... mommy, daddy, can I please tell Santa what I want for Christmas? But there are some children who don't get that opportunity. They may have physical or cognitive disabilities and find the whole scene pretty tough or impossible to navigate. That's why last weekend, St. Nick pulled up his sleigh at Cincinnati's Children's Hospital to meet with kids there as part of a program they call "sensitive santa." He joins us on the line now. Good morning Santa, and happy holidays.

Lorain Ford Plant Sold
Posted Thursday, December 21
Plans to redevelop the Ford assembly plant in Lorain that closed a year ago could eventually bring as many as 2,000 new jobs to the city, according to the site's new owner. City officials are giving the California company a very warm welcome to the neighborhood. ideastream's Bill Rice reports.

Ohio Public Radio: Ohio Medicaid Wasteful
Posted Wednesday, December 20
Ohio's auditor says the state's Medicaid program is wasting millions of taxpayer dollars through fraud and inefficiencies. Ohio Public Radio's Jo Ingles reports.

Education Bill Contains Charter School Changes
Posted Wednesday, December 20
An education bill headed to Governor Taft's desk contains some changes to Ohio's Charter School laws. ideastream's Lisa Ann Pinkerton reports.

Sutton Speaks to AFL/CIO
Posted Wednesday, December 20
Organized labor contributed a lot of work and money to get Democrats elected to Congress last month. One candidate they helped elect from Ohio is Betty Sutton, one of three new Democratic members from Ohio. Sutton was working as a labor attorney before winning Ohio's 13th District seat, and she is heading to Washington with labor issues on her mind. She told a group of union members yesterday that voters gave her party a mandate. ideastream's Mark Urycki reports.

Akron Agrees to Phase Out Weights and Measures
Posted Tuesday, December 19
There's another example of government cooperation in the region. Last week, the city of Stow signed a deal to share taxes with the city of Akron in return for cheaper water. Now Akron plans to turn over one of its departments to the Summit County government. ideastream Mark Urycki reports.

Pushing for Charter School Expansion
Posted Tuesday, December 19
Republicans in Columbus are working quickly to push through last-minute amendments favorable to expanding charter schools in Ohio. Charters schools - or community schools, as they're sometimes referred to - are funded with public dollars, but are subject to less oversight than traditional public schools. Democrats fear the amendments could make it harder for Governor-Elect Ted Strickland to keep his campaign promise to bring more accountability to the charter school system. ideastream's Lisa Ann Pinkerton reports.

A Diamond for the Holidays
Posted Monday, December 18
Okay, here's an idea for a unique gift this holiday season - how about a diamond? A very, very personal diamond. We're joined by one of the founders of LifeGem - a company that makes diamonds from the remains of people and pets. They're in Cleveland for the dog show that wrapped up this weekend.

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