Regional Features: Archive by Date

November 2007

What Would Merging Mean?: Recap
Posted Friday, November 30
This week on WCPN, we've been raising questions about the status of regional cooperation, including the somewhat radical approach of possibly merging local governments and public services. This morning, Rick Jackson recaps what local experts in and outside government say about lessons learned from another city which took the merger plunge in 2003: Louisville, Kentucky. The discussion aired last night on on the ideas program on our sister station WVIZ.

Commissioners Demand Change in Voting Equipment… Again
Posted Friday, November 30
For the second time this year, Cuyahoga County Commissioners are demanding a major change in the county's voting equipment. The commissioners worry that problems during this week's election board recount could spell trouble during next year's presidential election. ideastream's Tasha Flournoy has this report.

Backers of Abstinence-Only Sex Education Rally at Statehouse
Posted Friday, November 30
More than 200 backers of abstinence-only sex education rallied at the Ohio Statehouse yesterday. They were upset that Governor Strickland has decided Ohio will no longer put state money into abstinence-only programs in the schools. But the Governor is standing firm. Statehouse correspondent Bill Cohen files this report.

20 Years Ago, Kosar Tribute Song Was Huge in Cleveland
Posted Friday, November 30
With five games left in the regular season, Cleveland Browns fans are hoping for something that, a year ago, was practically unimaginable - a shot at the playoffs. The last time the Browns generated this much excitement was 20 years ago, when a couple of winning seasons prompted scores of musical homages to celebrate the team. Many fans will recall one such tribute... to quarterback sensation Bernie Kosar. Cleveland Magazine writer Andy Netzel tells the story of three everyday guys who almost struck it big with "Bernie Bernie". But just like Kosar and those Browns teams of the mid-80s, they fell just short.

What Would Merging Mean?: The Louisville Model
Posted Thursday, November 29
This week on WCPN and on WVIZ's ideas program, we've raised questions about the status of regional cooperation. One somewhat radical approach that is talked about occasionally is the merger of local governments and public services. You can learn more during an hour-long discussion about it, tonight at 8:00 on WVIZ. To set the stage, ideastream's Rick Jackson reports on another city that took the plunge toward merger: Louisville, Kentucky.

Outgoing Mayors Attack Tax Abatements
Posted Thursday, November 29
Outgoing suburban mayors, appearing on 90.3's The Sound of Ideas yesterday attacked the concept of tax abatements used by some communities to lure business away from others. We get more from ideastream's Paul Cox.

Brown Calls for Policy Change on Chinese Products
Posted Thursday, November 29
Senator Sherrod Brown says the recent examples of dangerous toys and other products imported from China can be partly blamed on bad U.S. government policies. The Democrat is calling for several changes. Ohio Public Radio's Bill Cohen reports.

Investing In Cleveland Neighborhoods
Posted Thursday, November 29
Urban planners say neighborhoods are the core of urban centers, and without adequate housing, jobs, and community services within neighborhoods, cities will decline. Local and national leaders will talk today about community development trends and plans shaping up in Cleveland. ideastream's Tasha Flournoy has this preview.

Homeland Security Strengthening Port Security
Posted Wednesday, November 28
Security at the Port of Cleveland is getting tighter. On Wednesday, the Department of Homeland Security rolled out its new security card for truck drivers and others who need unescorted access to parts of the port. ideastream's Dan Bobkoff has more.

What Would Merging Mean?
Posted Wednesday, November 28
Northeast Ohio's economy has drastically changed over the last decade. Municipal budgets have shrunk. Manufacturing jobs have declined and the urban core -- Cleveland -- is losing population. As leaders search for solutions, talk of regionalism has ignited conversations and ideas, including more collaboration among cities, even the possibility of merger between city and county government in Cleveland and Cuyahoga County. This week ideastream is exploring that radical idea with reports and interviews on radio and TV. A special hour long edition of ideas on the topic will be aired Thursday night at 8:00, and this morning economics reporter Tasha Flournoy gives us more perspective on how some local mayors view regional cooperation.

Milk Production Changing
Posted Wednesday, November 28
The way milk is produced is changing. Many dairy farms are much bigger and more efficient than those of the past. They're often called factory farms. Neighbors of these farms say they're paying a high price for the cheap dairy products on your store shelves. Mark Brush reports.

Breuer Facelift?
Posted Wednesday, November 28
As downtown Cleveland ages it is occasionally looking for a face-lift. Sometimes that involves tearing down the old to make way for the new. That was slated to happen with the Ameritrust Tower at Ninth and Euclid, which has been the butt of jokes for many years. As part of a multi-million-dollar development in the heart of downtown, the tower had a date with the wrecking ball. But now, it may have a new lease on life.

Solon Builder Heads to Prison for Mortgage Fraud
Posted Tuesday, November 27
A Solon builder and a former US Postal clerk tied to over $15 million in mortgage fraud are going to prison. The two were the first to be sentenced in a mortgage fraud ring that involved at least 38 homes in Solon and Glenwillow. ideastream's Mhari Saito reports.

Prosecutors Wants Death Penalty Expansion
Posted Tuesday, November 27
At the same time that Ohio lawyers are calling for a moratorium on capitol punishment here, Ohio prosecutors are calling for an expansion of the death penalty. They want it applied to criminals who kill judges. The idea is just starting to be considered by state senators in committee. Statehouse correspondent Bill Cohen reports.

The Flu Is Starting to Fly
Posted Tuesday, November 27
The pleasures of the holiday season are sometimes tempered by the fever and fatigue of the flu season. And recent stories of more serious flu strains can be confusing for anyone who just wants to stay as healthy as possible. ideastream's David C. Barnett has more on the Cleveland Health Department's annual immunization program.

Food Banks Coming Up Short
Posted Tuesday, November 27
The Cleveland Food Bank won a national award this past October for its public education program. The Food Bank also did record business, last month, and that's a cause of concern for the organization's officials. ideastream's David C. Barnett has more.

From Intern to Director
Posted Monday, November 26
It's the second highest government position in Lorain, and some say the most important. The safety/services director is in charge of the police and fire departments, sanitation, and snow removal. And right now, the man in charge is a 21-year-old college senior, who, just weeks ago, was an intern. ideastream's Dan Bobkoff has the story.

Overcrowding in Hospital Emergency Departments
Posted Monday, November 26
Hospitals in Greater Cleveland are grappling with crowded emergency departments.

Cleveland Hopkins Airport and Cab Companies to Faceoff in Court
Posted Monday, November 26
A federal judge will hear a dispute this week between Cleveland Hopkins Airport and cab companies wanting to serve airport customers. ideastream's Tasha Flournoy reporting.

Cuyahoga Voting Machines Get Tested
Posted Monday, November 26
The manufacturer of Cuyahoga County's trouble-prone electronic voting machines will come to Cleveland next Monday to try to solve continuing technical problems. ideastream Politics reporter Kymberli Hagelberg has details.

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