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The Sound of Ideas: Archive by Date

September 2011

More Doctors Needed, Stat

Posted September 1, 2011
Topics: Community/Human Interest, Education, Health

Northeast Ohio is beginning to feel the pinch of a looming doctor shortage as the population, and doctors themselves, age. It's not a new problem. Warnings of physician shortages have been issued for years and deficits in urban and rural areas are commonplace. What's actually being done now to address the issue? On the next Sound of Ideas, we'll talk with top medical school administrators and you. Your appointment is confirmed, Thursday morning at 9:00 on 90.3.

Friday Reporters’ Roundtable

Posted September 2, 2011
Topics: Community/Human Interest, Courts/Crime - Fire/Law Enforcement, Government/Politics

If the sentence, 'he makes how much???' echoed through your offices this week - chances are good someone was looking at the new web site that reveals the salary of every public employee in Ohio. Our panel of journalists weighs in on the furor that followed. You'll also hear about the state's "partial" success in unloading its aging prison buildings, and we'll give you a ringside perspective on the verbal fisticuffs between the Secretary of State, and the Cuyahoga County Executive. Host Rick Jackson invites you to join in on the Sound of Ideas reporter's roundtable, Friday morning at 9:00 on 90.3, or you can watch us live on the web at wcpn.org.

How Are We Teaching the Teachers?

Posted September 6, 2011
Topics: Community/Human Interest, Education, Government/Politics, Parenting/Child Care, Technology, Schools That Work, StateImpact Ohio

With a new school year underway, we are devoting a program to the grooming of future teachers. U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan has said that most of the country's 1,450 teacher-training programs are doing a "mediocre job.” So, what do we know about the best way to educate candidates for the classroom? Do textbooks train a white, middle-class teacher how to bridge the “cultural divide” that may be waiting when they enter that classroom? How do we measure the effectiveness of teacher training? And how do we know that the best teachers reach the classroom? Is there a way to weed out those who aren’t really cut-out for the profession?

Courageous Attorney Fights for Press Freedom in Zimbabwe

Posted September 7, 2011
Topics: Community/Human Interest, Ethics/Religion

Attorney Beatrice Mtetwa stands up for a free and independent press. What's remarkable is that she stands up for these ideals and for the rule of law in Zimbabwe, where the government of Robert Mugabe holds press freedom in low regard. On the next Sound of Ideas, we visit with Mtetwa, winner of this year's Inamori Ethics Prize from Case Western Reserve University, and with one of the journalists she fought for in Zimbabwe, Hudson native Andrew Meldrum. Don't miss it, Wednesday at 9:00 a.m.

Military Veterans and Their Families

Posted September 8, 2011
Topics: Terrorism

The September 11th, 2001 terrorist attacks were taken as a call to action by many Americans, none more so than those who responded by joining the military. Thursday on The Sound of Ideas, as Sunday's tenth anniversary of the tragedy approaches, we'll hear the stories of those who have served since 9-11, and talk with the parents of one Marine who gave his life.

Friday Reporters’ Roundtable

Posted September 9, 2011
Topics: Economy, Regional Economy/Business - Analysis and Trends, Government/Politics, Health, Transportation, StateImpact Ohio

The President lays out his proposal to kick start the job market - we'll gauge Ohio's reaction to the plan. Join ideastream Executive Editor David Molpus and a panel of Northeast Ohio journalists as they review this and the other major news stories of this past week, including the firefighter "ad wars," doctors who are paid by drug companies to give speeches, and the Akron mom who got her felony conviction reduced by the Governor.

Consumer Protection Agency Under the Microscope

Posted September 12, 2011
Topics: Community/Human Interest, Education, Government/Politics

This past week, former Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray gave testimony in Washington about his nomination to head the new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The Bureau was established by Congress to keep a tight reign on bank shenanigans. Democrats favor it, but the Republican majority in the new Congress believes the Bureau would be too powerful and might do more harm than good. Now the agency is in limbo. On the next Sound of Ideas, Plain Dealer Consumer Affairs columnist Sheryl Harris joins us as we dissect the politics and examine the Bureau's mission.

Clearing the Air Over Ozone

Posted September 13, 2011
Topics: Environment, Government/Politics, Health

President Obama has put the brakes on a plan to combat smog. He reasoned that tougher clean air standards would burden businesses during difficult economic times. But environmental advocates say health benefits of cleaner air would outweigh any negatives. On the next Sound of Ideas, we'll examine the Environmental Protection Agency's proposed national ozone standard and discuss how it might have affected northeast Ohio. Tuesday morning at 9:00.

Food Waste And Hunger in Northeast Ohio

Posted September 14, 2011
Topics:

You may recall your mother telling you to clean your plate because it's wrong to waste food while others starve. Mom’s still right about that. But throwing food away also has a negative impact on the environment, filling up the nation's landfills with tons of food scraps that create methane gas as they rots. Can we feed the hungry while starving the landfills? Let's talk about local efforts to reduce, reuse and recycle food waste, tomorrow at 9 on the Sound of Ideas.

Great Migrations: One Voluntary, One Not

Posted September 15, 2011
Topics: Arts and Culture, History, Community/Human Interest

Most of the human cargo ferried from Africa across the Atlantic for the slave trade wound up not in the United States, but in sugar producing nations to the south. That's one of the surprising statistics in the exhaustive "Atlas of the Transatlantic Slave Trade." The authors join us Thursday, along with Isabel Wilkerson, whose book "The Warmth of Other Suns" chronicles another great black migration, this one voluntary. Join us, Wednesday at 9:00 on The Sound of Ideas.

Friday Reporters’ Roundtable

Posted September 16, 2011
Topics: Economy, Housing/Real Estate, Government/Politics

The House has already passed a plan to redraw the congressional map, which will leave two Ohio representatives out of a job. Join ideastream Executive Editor David Molpus and a panel of Northeast Ohio journalists as they review this and the other major news stories of this past week, including the ruling on lakefront property rights, Kasich's openness to producing a new budget next year, and the story of the 'Amish Bernie Madoff'.

Faces of Poverty

Posted September 19, 2011
Topics: Community/Human Interest, Economy, Regional Economy/Business - Analysis and Trends, Health, Aging/The Elderly, Children's Health, Parenting/Child Care

Poverty is the highest it's been in the United States since 1993. And the Census Bureau reports that more than one in seven Ohioans is poor, the highest rate for the state in three decades. Meanwhile, household incomes are dropping, even for those who manage to stay above the poverty line. On the next Sound of Ideas, we'll look at poverty in Northeast Ohio and examine the impact on children and the elderly. Join us, Monday at 9am on The Sound of Ideas.

Best Places to Work - Encore Presentation

Posted September 20, 2011
Topics: Community/Human Interest, Economy, Regional Economy/Business - Analysis and Trends

Some of Northeast Ohio's top employers offer flexible hours, on-site daycare, even free candy or a surprise visit from the ice cream truck. And don't worry about the calories, on-site fitness centers are available, too. On the next Sound of Ideas, we'll explore what makes a workplace great. Is it the perks? Or do employees prefer an attentive boss and a company that has promise? What would make you take this job and ... love it? Originally aired 6/23/11.

Energy Efficiency and Sustainability

Posted September 21, 2011
Topics: Economy, Environment, Government/Politics

Northeast Ohioans have been putting a lot of energy into using less energy. On the next Sound of Ideas, we'll talk to conservation experts about energy efficiency success stories and identify potential for improvement. Cleveland is about to convene its annual sustainabilty forum as a state summit to discuss energy and the economy also begins. Let's have our own energetic discussion on sustainable energy practices, Wednesday at 9.

Ohio Redistricting

Posted September 22, 2011
Topics: Government/Politics

The puzzlemakers charged with carving 16 new Congressional districts out of the Ohio's existing 18 districts created some very strangely-shaped pieces. Republicans think they fit together quite nicely. Most Democrats say it creates an unbalanced picture. On the next Sound of Ideas, we'll talk about the politics, the partisanship and the potential for legal challenges. We want to hear from you. Chances are your district changed. For better or worse? Join us, Thursday at 9:00.

Friday Reporter’s Roundtable

Posted September 23, 2011
Topics: Community/Human Interest, Economy, Regional Economy/Business - Analysis and Trends, Courts/Crime - Fire/Law Enforcement, Energy, Government/Politics, Health, Transportation

More detailed regional poverty statistics released this week shed light on the struggles of many Northeast Ohioans. Join Statehouse News Bureau Chief Karen Kasler and a panel of Northeast Ohio journalists as they review this and the other major news stories of this past week, including potential closings of local USPS mail processing centers, the promise of over 200,000 jobs in shale gas drilling, and complete and green streets legislation.

Can We Talk?

Posted September 26, 2011
Topics:

“What time are you going to be home at?” “Does the car need washed?” There are many contemporary words or phrases that are grammatically or syntactically incorrect, but they flourish in the popular culture. Who decides proper usage --- especially when it crosses boundaries of race and identity? Some critics see the popularity of texting as a degradation of our common parlance, but others say it’s just an efficient form of communication. Join us for an encore presentation of this show as we explore and challenge some of the assumptions that are made about the common language that we supposedly share.

Progress on Energy Growth in NE Ohio

Posted September 27, 2011
Topics: Energy, Environment, Technology

It's been a long time since alternative energy advocates began talking about harnessing the winds that blow across Lake Erie to create electricity. No windmills yet. On the next Sound of Ideas, we'll get an update on wind power efforts and other alternative energy prospects in Northeast Ohio, including drilling for gas in the shale beneath us and maybe even burning garbage. Join us, Tuesday at 9:00 a.m. on 90.3

Racial Disparities and Stroke

Posted September 28, 2011
Topics: Community/Human Interest, Health, Surviving Stroke

Stroke is the leading cause of disability and the third leading cause of death. Every 40 seconds, stroke strikes someone in the United States. Every four minutes, stroke kills. And African Americans have more strokes and are more likely to die from them. Why is that? On the next Sound of Ideas, we'll tell you what you need to know about stroke prevention and survival and we'll look at who's most at risk and why, Wednesday at 9 on 90.3.

Putting the Brakes on Distracted Driving

Posted September 29, 2011
Topics: Community/Human Interest, Courts/Crime - Fire/Law Enforcement, Transportation

If you text while driving, you're not focused on the road ahead. And that can be deadly. The Ohio Senate is discussing a ban on texting while driving, a measure already approved by the Ohio House. We'll talk about that proposal, discuss local measures already in place and chat about other driver distractions, including cell phones used the old fashioned way -- for talking. And we promise to do none of this behind the wheel. Join us, Thursday at 9:00, right here on 90.3.

Friday Reporters’ Roundtable

Posted September 30, 2011
Topics: Community/Human Interest, Economy, Regional Economy/Business - Analysis and Trends, Government/Politics

Ohio Republicans put Romney and Perry far ahead in the field of GOP Presidential rivals and, a new poll says, either would run neck and neck against President Obama. Join ideastream Executive Editor David Molpus and a panel of Northeast Ohio journalists as they review this and the other major news stories of this past week, including a top public transit official who got a bump in pay and a bonus, an area hospital that pulls out the pink slips, and some area cops answer the call to report for duty.