Newsmakers: Ned Hill, Vice-President of Economic Development, Cleveland State University; Daniel Cuffaro, chairman, Industrial Design, Cleveland Institute of Art. Many ideas are being floated for the revitalization of downtown Cleveland. One of the most intriguing comes from Mr. Feagler's first two guests. They are suggesting that part of the downtown be turned into a mecca for industrial designers. Such designers are spread all over the map, including many in NE Ohio. But Hill and Cuffaro argue that the synergies realized by bringing all these designers together into one district can be the spark to ignite a resurgence for the downtown.
Roundtable: Brian Tucker, publisher and editorial director, Crain's Cleveland Business; Kevin O'Brien, editorial writer, The Plain Dealer; Patrick Shepherd, president, Cleveland Stonewall Democrats.
CMHA Investigation: The federal government said this week it's going to investigate Cleveland Metropolitan Housing Authority's purchase of land on the east side of Cleveland. Questions were raised when the agency bought the land for $150,000 per acre from a developer who'd told the city he planned a mixed-use commercial development on the land. CMHA reportedly bought the land without a formal appraisal. Taxpayer money was used to clean up what used to be a brownfield site.
Mr. Noe's Day in Court: Would-be Republican king-maker Tom Noe faces sentencing Monday after this conviction this week on charges of racketeering, money laundering, forgery and tampering with records. Noe, a Toledo coin dealer, was the central figure in a scandal that played a large role in torpedoing Republican chances in statewide elections. Prosecutors claim Noe turned a $50 million Bureau of Workers Compensation investment fund into his personal checking account.
Capitol Hill Power Struggle: Democrats in the House have elected Maryland representative Steny Hoyer as Majority Leader. Hoyer will be the top lieutenant to Speaker Nancy Pelosi whose own choice for Majority Leader was Pennsylvania's John Murtha. Pelosi and Hoyer are said to have an uneasy relationship. In the Senate, Republicans elected Trent Lott of Mississippi as minority whip four years after he removed himself from the leadership team in a dust-up over controversial remarks he'd made at a birthday party for the late Strom Thurmond.
President Bush in Asia: The President is visiting the Pacific Rim for an economic summit with Asian leaders to be held in Vietnam. He told an audience in Singapore that the U.S. will maintain its interest in Asia. He asked Asian allies to stand firm against a possibly nuclear-armed North Korea.