Regional Features: Archive by Date

February 2007

Problems from Undiagnosed Learning Disabilities
Posted Wednesday, February 28
In America today, around 20% of children have learning disabilities, but only 5% are aware of their problems. As ideastream's Lisa Ann Pinkerton reports, the problems undiagnosed learning disabilities create never go away - rather, they compound as children grow up.

CSU Report Shows Tax Abatement Program Works
Posted Wednesday, February 28
A Cleveland State University study reports the city's residential tax abatement program is working and should stay intact if Cleveland wants to remain viable. The results come a few months before the program is set to expire and City Council will decide whether to keep it as is or make changes. ideastream's Tasha Flournoy reports.

Barack Obama Visits Ohio
Posted Tuesday, February 27
Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama picked up at least a half-million dollars on a campaign swing through Ohio yesterday. The Illinois Senator started with a fundraiser breakfast in Cincinnati, followed by a fundraiser lunch in Columbus and dinner in Cleveland. In the evening, he spoke at a free event to a packed house at Tri-C's Eastern campus in Highland Hills. ideastream's Mark Urycki reports.

Reaction to Obama’s Cleveland Appearance
Posted Tuesday, February 27
A recent poll found that Ohioans have a mostly favorable opinion of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama. But 52% said they didn't know enough about him to form an opinion. Most of the people who got to see him in person at Tri-C's eastern campus Monday night seemed to have made up their minds. ideastream's Mark Urycki spoke with some of them and filed this report.

Tackling Debt
Posted Monday, February 26
At a time when Cleveland has the highest number of foreclosures in Cuyahoga County, the region tops the nation in bankruptcy cases. The economic and financial crisis seems to have already hit us. But, on a recent visit to Cleveland, consumer finance critic Robert Manning has a prediction for a nation consumed by credit: by the year 2020, America will see a sharp decline in our way of living and face a serious financial crisis. ideastream's Tasha Flournoy explores the underpinnings of Manning's doom-and-gloom predictions and looks at how some locals tackle the issue of rising debt and financial uncertainty.

Issue 18 Tax Now in Effect
Posted Friday, February 23
Smokers in Cuyahoga County may have noticed a hike in the price of their cigarettes. Since February 1st, the county has been collecting a 30-cents-a-pack tax imposed by the voter-approved Issue 18. The excise tax will eventually go to nonprofit arts organizations. But first, ideastream's Mhari Saito reports, there's a lot of work that needs to get done.

New Wind Turbine for Urban Environments
Posted Thursday, February 22
Later this morning, officials at Cleveland State University will meet to move ahead with plans to build a new type of wind turbine designed specifically for dense urban environments. ideastream's Lisa Ann Pinkerton has more.

U.S. Companies Aiming to Enter Chinese Market
Posted Thursday, February 22
As China's wealth and influence grows, more U.S. companies are trying to break into the Chinese market. But as ideastream's Eric Wellman found out, there are many cultural hurdles that need to be crossed.

Springfield Schools to Place Levy on May Ballot
Posted Wednesday, February 21
The Springfield Local School District Board of Education voted Tuesday to place a 9.5 mill levy on the May ballot. Voters in the Summit County district have turned down the same levy three other times and the schools are sliding toward fiscal emergency. ideastream's Mark Urycki has details.

Northeast Ohio Libraries Among the Nation’s Best
Posted Wednesday, February 21
Northeast Ohio has, perhaps, more than its share of problems - but it also has some very impressive assets, such as a world class symphony and the world's best heart clinic. It's also home to some of the best libraries in the country, according to the national ranking known as the HAPLR Index. That was a surprise to ideastream's newest reporter Dan Bobkoff, who's taking up the education beat. He went to find out what makes them so great.

Gov. Strickland Addresses Press Club
Posted Tuesday, February 20
Governor Ted Strickland says a deficit of quality workers is an obstacle for Ohio's economic growth. The governor was in Northeast Ohio yesterday to address the Press Club of Cleveland. ideastream's Dan Bobkoff has more.

A Call for Religious Regionalism
Posted Monday, February 19
Regionalism seems to be the buzz word these days in Northeast Ohio. Many area cities are looking for ways to trim budgets by pooling resources. In a time when urban sprawl, money woes and a shortage of priests have shaken the Cleveland Catholic Diocese, church officials are exploring their own version of religious regionalism. ideastream's David C. Barnett reports.

Homeless, and in the Cold
Posted Monday, February 19
Digging out from last week's winter storm is tough for most Northeast Ohioans, but can be particularly hard for those without shelter. ideastream's Tasha Flournoy tells us how the area's homeless fare in the cold.

Statehouse News Bureau: Tax Battle Looms
Posted Friday, February 16
It appears there could be a battle brewing between Governor Strickland and Republican leaders in the legislature over the issue of taxes. The Governor and Legislative leaders have all said they don't intend to raise taxes. But Strickland may force some Ohioans, especially the wealthy, to pay a bit more by closing certain loopholes. Statehouse correspondent Bill Cohen reports.

Statehouse News Bureau: Strickland vs. Legislature on Estate Tax
Posted Friday, February 16
Governor Strickland is sparring with leaders in the General Assembly over the estate tax, or as opponents call it, the death tax. Leading Republican legislators say Ohio's tax on estates runs counter to economic development. But Strickland disagrees and he's vowing to fight the GOP move to soften the levy. Statehouse correspondent Bill Cohen reports.

Bishop Lennon to Address City Club
Posted Friday, February 16
This afternoon, the spiritual leader of 800,000 Northeast Ohio Catholics will layout some of his plans for the future of the local diocese. That future may include the combining or closing of some churches. ideastream's David C. Barnett reports.

Expert: New Business Models Needed for Local Papers
Posted Friday, February 16
An expert on the newspaper industry says local papers should look for new ways of doing business. Merrill Lynch analyst Lauren Rich Fine tells the Cleveland City Club that newspapers' profits will continue to shrink and circulation is only part of the problem. ideastream's Mark Urycki reports.

Statehouse News Bureau: GOP: Ohio Can’t Afford School Measure
Posted Thursday, February 15
The Republicans who control the Ohio House and Senate are warning there will be money problems if a proposed ballot issue passes. A coalition of education groups is hoping to ask voters approve a constitutional amendment that would make a high quality education the right of every public school student. It would change the way schools are funded by shifting more of the burden to the state. But some GOP lawmakers say they now have proof from an unbiased source that the state can't afford it. Statehouse correspondent Bill Cohen reports.

New Look to U.S. Senate
Posted Thursday, February 15
There's different look to the U.S. Senate this year. Part of it is the election of nine freshman who are either Democrats or caucus with the Democrats. That flipped control of the chamber. But it's the people in that class that give the Senate a different feel, like Democratic Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown, Democratic Socialist Bernie Sanders of Vermont and populist Jim Webb of Virginia. From Capitol Hill, Chad Pergram examines how Brown and his colleagues could have a unique impact on what is usually a staid institution.

Shaker Schools Give Parents Few Minutes Notice on Closing
Posted Thursday, February 15
Shaker Heights Public Schools gave the community only a few minutes notice before closing its buildings on Wednesday.

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