http://www.wksu.org/news/ WKSU News Headlines en-us Copyright 2010, WKSU Radio Tue, 9 Feb 2010 09:15:33 -0500 WKSU RSS Generator 1.2 The Akron school board has approved an ambitious plan to redesign two of its public schools. WKSU's Mike Olszewski reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24891 Tue, 9 Feb 2010 08:53:53 -0500 Mike Olszewski Education The city of Kent is moving ahead with plans to drastically change the look of its downtown area. WKSU's Mike Olszewski reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24890 Tue, 9 Feb 2010 08:49:44 -0500 Mike Olszewski Economy and Business - A second winter storm is expected to leave Ohio with up to a foot of snow - Ohio based Huntington Banks are expanding their hours and bringing in new hires. - There is a good chance Delonte West will be returning tonight as the Cavs host the New Jersey Nets - Akron and Summit County health deparments look to consolidate WKSU's Mike Olszewski reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24487 Tue, 9 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0500 Mike Olszewski In these days of ATMs and on-line banking, Huntington announced this weekend that it will open its Cleveland branches seven days a week, and extend weekday hours. It may be setting itself up for stronger competition in the market with PNC. WKSU's M.L. Schultze reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24889 Mon, 8 Feb 2010 22:38:27 -0500 M.L. Schultze Economy and Business The Obama Administration is pledging more than 78 million dollars to fight the spread of Asian carp from the Mississippi River into the Great Lakes. Monday's announcement followed a meeting by EPA and other administration officials with Great Lakes governors, who fear the massive fish is about to leap through Chicago shipping channels into the Great Lakes. The fish can devour more than half its weight and has no predators here. The governors are concerned it will destroy the $7 billion Great Lakes fishing industry. Nearly a billion of that is in Lake Erie alone, and Charlie Wooley of the National Fish and Wildlife Service says the carp already have been found in the shallower water of Lake Erie. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24888 Mon, 8 Feb 2010 18:49:37 -0500 The grants are being made through the state of Ohio's Industry Energy Efficiency Awards WKSU's Tim Rudell reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24887 Mon, 8 Feb 2010 18:00:10 -0500 Tim Rudell Economy and Business Ohio has an estimated 850,000 small businesses, and the Obama administration is hoping they see a lot to like in a plan to expand small-business tax credits and lending. WKSU's M.L. Schultze reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24885 Mon, 8 Feb 2010 11:50:17 -0500 M.L. Schultze Economy and Business The 2010 campaigns haven't really started heating up yet, but Ohio is already quite the hot spot for high profile political figures right now. WKSU's Karen Kasler reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24883 Mon, 8 Feb 2010 11:24:20 -0500 Karen Kasler Government Ohio legislators this week plan to look at more than 60 proposals for new state laws. The action will take place in House and Senate committees. WKSU's Bill Cohen reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24882 Mon, 8 Feb 2010 11:10:09 -0500 Bill Cohen Government The 3C personal train plan got a big boost with $400 million in federal stimulus dollars. The plan still needs to be approved by the lawmakers on the state controlling board, and it has plenty of critics. Statehouse correspondent Karen Kasler sat down with two lawmakers with different perspectives on the proposal to bring passenger rail back to Ohio. WKSU's Karen Kasler reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24881 Mon, 8 Feb 2010 11:04:40 -0500 Karen Kasler Ohio Quicken Loans Arena has shut down its drinking fountains. WKSU's Mike Olszewski reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24879 Mon, 8 Feb 2010 08:28:09 -0500 Mike Olszewski Health and Medicine A Cleveland non-profit that helps people with low incomes has hit major financial problems of its own. WKSU's Mike Olszewski reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24878 Mon, 8 Feb 2010 08:22:05 -0500 Mike Olszewski Economy and Business A 22-year old Mentor woman who wants to make history with a cross-Atlantic Ocean row has reached the half-way point of her journey. Katie Spotz left Senegal, Africa, around the first of the year and will arrive in Brazil in about six weeks. WKSU's Amanda Rabinowitz catches up with Spotz through her close friend and fellow ocean rower Sam Williams. WKSU's Amanda Rabinowitz reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24875 Mon, 8 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0500 Amanda Rabinowitz Sports The Pro Football Hall of Fame's Class of 2010 includes two players eligible in their first year -- Jerry Rice and Emmitt Smith -- and two who have been out of the game for more than three decades. WKSU's M.L. Schultze reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24877 Sat, 6 Feb 2010 19:24:14 -0500 M.L. Schultze Sports Ohio's largest county may have more of that wild-west feel this weekend. The Ashtabula County sheriff's office was forced to lay-off 16 deputies this week, leaving one cruiser per shift available for calls. WKSU's Jeff St. Clair reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24884 Mon, 8 Feb 2010 11:45:40 -0500 Jeff St. Clair Government A shortfall in state income tax revenues is sparking a disturbing question - could Ohio be headed into yet another state budget mess? Ohio legislators as well as Governor Strickland thought all the holes in the budget were filled, but a new one has emerged. Revenues from the graduated income tax came in $139 million below estimates in January, creating a nearly $100 million shortfall in the state budget. John Kohlstrand from the tax department says there's no need to panic. WKSU's Bill Cohen reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24880 Mon, 8 Feb 2010 10:58:39 -0500 Bill Cohen Government The field of candidates for Cuyahoga County's first county executive will officially grow to three next week.... WKSU's Kevin Niedermier reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24876 Fri, 5 Feb 2010 16:36:25 -0500 Kevin Niedermier Government Advocacy groups on the political left and right are up in arms over a proposal by one Ohio legislator that would make it much harder for activists to get their ballot proposals approved by voters. It would require that future statewide ballot measures garner a super-majority before they take effect WKSU's Bill Cohen reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24872 Fri, 5 Feb 2010 10:22:51 -0500 Bill Cohen Government Some property owners in downtown Cleveland say they are willing to pay to keep the business district clean and attractive to shoppers. WKSU's Mike Olszewski reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24871 Fri, 5 Feb 2010 08:45:36 -0500 Mike Olszewski Economy and Business A decision by state regulators caused utility bills to spike for thousands of owners of all electric-homes. And two Northeast Ohio lawmakers have scheduled hearings next week to examine why and to discuss alternatives. WKSU's Mike Olszewski reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24870 Fri, 5 Feb 2010 08:43:07 -0500 Mike Olszewski Economy and Business The Cleveland Cavs have their longest winning streak of the season at 10 games. Thursday night, LeBron James got the best of Dwyane Wade - his friend and another player at the top of this year's extraordinary class of free agents. It gave the Cavs their third win over the Heat this season. WKSU's Amanda Rabinowitz reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24869 Fri, 5 Feb 2010 00:42:49 -0500 Amanda Rabinowitz Sports Folk singer Pete Seeger was hoping to help out the country of Haiti but is helping out the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as well. A few weeks ago, Seeger had placed his famous banjo head on eBay to raise money for planting trees in Haiti. But after the bidding went above $5,000, he decided to find other ways to raise money for Haiti. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24874 Fri, 5 Feb 2010 10:44:56 -0500 Arts and Entertainment Ohio has put to death a man who killed a convenience store owner and clerk after bragging he would copy a scene from a gang related movie. 37 year-old Mark Aaron Brown from Youngstown died by lethal injection at 10:20am for gunning down 32 year-old store owner Isam Salman in Youngstown in 1994. Brown had also been sentenced to life in prison for shooting a clerk in the store at the same time. Alan Johnson is a reporter from the Columbus Dispatch and has witnessed several executions, including Thursday's. He described it as "calm, fast and peaceful". WKSU's Karen Kasler reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24873 Fri, 5 Feb 2010 10:27:14 -0500 Karen Kasler Crime and Courts Folk singer Pete Seeger was hoping to help out the country of Haiti but is helping out the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as well. A few weeks ago Seeger had placed his famous banjo head on E-Bay to raise money for planting trees in Haiti. But after the bidding went above 5 thousand dollars he decided to find other ways to raise money for Haiti.... http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24868 Thu, 4 Feb 2010 17:11:26 -0500 Arts and Entertainment Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown is introducing a bill to try to side-step a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision that strips away most of the limits on corporate spending on political campaigns. WKSU's M.L. Schultze reports WKSU's M.L. Schultze reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24867 Thu, 4 Feb 2010 14:38:51 -0500 M.L. Schultze Politics In his budget released this week, President Obama proposed spending 300 million dollars next year on improving the Great Lakes. That's a reduction of the 475 million approved for 2010, the first year of his Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. The money will go toward improving the region's environment and economy, it's a balance that can happen according to Jeff Skelding of the the Healing Our Waters / Great Lakes Coaltion says. Lake Erie is home to more than half of the fish in the entire Great Lakes system, and is estimated to generate $50 billion dollars in economic activity each year. WKSU's Jeff St. Clair reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24866 Thu, 4 Feb 2010 13:36:00 -0500 Jeff St. Clair Environment The Ohio Inspector General says the former head of the Ohio Department of Public Safety might have committed criminal acts in the way he conducted business while in that office. But some people think the IG's report is based on a flawed and insufficient investigation. WKSU's Jo Ingles reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24864 Thu, 4 Feb 2010 11:03:24 -0500 Jo Ingles Ohio Ohio is set to go forward with a second execution in as many months, and it could be the third one to use Ohio's new single drug method. WKSU's Karen Kasler reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24861 Thu, 4 Feb 2010 10:46:17 -0500 Karen Kasler Crime and Courts The design of everyday products is often determined by factors like controlling the cost of raw materials or meeting rigid production deadlines. Living things, on the other hand, follow a different set of design rules, and enjoy millions of years of product development. A growing number of scientists and entrepreneurs in Northeast Ohio think the region's economy could be improved by learning how nature solves industrial design problems. The new field is called Biomimicry. WKSU's Jeff St. Clair reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24860 Thu, 4 Feb 2010 09:34:12 -0500 Jeff St. Clair Science and Technology A neighbor has been arrested in an arson explosion that ripped through a Westside Cleveland neighborhood last week. WKSU's Mike Olszewski reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24859 Thu, 4 Feb 2010 09:07:40 -0500 Mike Olszewski Crime and Courts The director of the NASA Glenn Research Center in Brook Park is transferring to Washington. WKSU's Mike Olszewski reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24858 Thu, 4 Feb 2010 09:02:07 -0500 Mike Olszewski Science and Technology The state Highway Patrol has announced another big marijuana bust. WKSU's Bill Cohen reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24863 Thu, 4 Feb 2010 11:00:21 -0500 Bill Cohen Crime and Courts It's now official - Ohio voters will indeed decide the fate of a plan for the state to once again borrow hundreds of millions of dollars and funnel it to high-tech companies and university researcher, in hopes they'll create jobs. Legislators gave final approval to a compromise version of the plan Wednesday. WKSU's Bill Cohen reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24862 Thu, 4 Feb 2010 10:53:56 -0500 Bill Cohen But, the district's superintendent says enrollment erosion and tight finances are still facts of life for Northeast Ohio's second largest district WKSU's Tim Rudell reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24857 Wed, 3 Feb 2010 18:10:52 -0500 Tim Rudell Education The planned multi-billion-dollar sale of the company that owns Cedar Point looks increasingly shaky. A second investment firm has come out opposing the $2.4 billion deal between Cedar Fair to Apollo Management. Q Funding and Neuberger Berman control about one-quarter of Cedar Fair stock. And both are now saying they'll vote against the sale. Cedar Fair needs those who own two-thirds of its stock to vote yes for the sale -- and any votes that are not cast at all will count as "no" votes. Cedar Fair is based in Sandusky and got its start with Cedar Point. It now owns about a dozen parks, including Kings Island outside Cincinnati. It accumulated a massive debt in its expansion. WKSU's M.L. Schultze reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24856 Wed, 3 Feb 2010 14:40:06 -0500 M.L. Schultze Arts and Entertainment Diebold is trying to shed the most public part of its troubles -- its electronic voting business. But today's earnings report and layoff notices underscore that it's not in the clear yet. WKSU's M.L. Schultze reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24855 Wed, 3 Feb 2010 14:33:10 -0500 M.L. Schultze Economy and Business Franklin County Probate Judge Eric Brown wants to be the next Chief Justice on the Ohio Supreme Court. There aren't any Democrats on the Ohio Supreme Court right now. Brown says his life experience as a Northeast Ohio businessman, school board president, and a lawyer working for both a Democrat and a Republican attorney general would allow him to bring a different perspective to the state's highest court. WKSU's Jo Ingles reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24850 Wed, 3 Feb 2010 12:22:42 -0500 Jo Ingles Government With just hours to go before a deadline to make the May ballot, lawmakers in Columbus struck a deal on the high-tech Third Frontier jobs program. WKSU's Karen Kasler reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24849 Wed, 3 Feb 2010 12:16:14 -0500 Karen Kasler Government A citizens group is being formed in Akron to improve communications between the community and police. WKSU's Mike Olszewski reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24848 Wed, 3 Feb 2010 09:02:01 -0500 Mike Olszewski Crime and Courts A campaign to eliminate traffic cameras is picking up steam in Northeast Ohio. WKSU's Mike Olszewski reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24847 Wed, 3 Feb 2010 08:58:38 -0500 Mike Olszewski Crime and Courts The Cleveland Fire Department says an explosion that demolished one house and damaged nearly 60 other buildings last week was intentional. The explosion flattened a vacant house on West 83rd Street on January 25th, and several nearby buildings had to be leveled because they were so badly damaged. More than a dozen families were left homeless. Fire Department spokesman Lt. Larry Gray says the department is actively looking for arson leads. WKSU's M.L. Schultze reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24854 Wed, 3 Feb 2010 13:25:05 -0500 M.L. Schultze Crime and Courts The White House plans to make billions of dollars available to small businesses through community banks in the U.S. The goal is to spur lending, which small businesses say has been too hard to come by. Roger Geiger is executive director of the Ohio office of the National Federation of Independent Business. He acknowledges the need for credit, but says significant growth won't happen without an increase in consumer demand and fewer government restrictions. WKSU's Jeff St. Clair reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24853 Wed, 3 Feb 2010 13:03:04 -0500 Jeff St. Clair Economy and Business If Congress accepts it, President Obama's budget would change things dramatically at the NASA Glenn Research Center. Most significantly, the Constellation program to sent man back to the moon and to Mars would be canceled. The director of the Glenn Research Center, Woodrow Whitlow, says work on Constellation would end this year. But there are plenty of future opportunities for the Center. Dan Nawrocki reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24852 Wed, 3 Feb 2010 12:51:12 -0500 Dan Nawrocki Science and Technology Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray is reinterpreting the state's deceptive sales practices law. That way, he can not only go after scam artists who have victimized individuals, but also go after scam artists who have victimized small businesses. Cordray has opened up his consumer protection website and toll-free hotline to businesses that have been scammed. A pilot project that began last year attracted 500 complaints. The A.G. says his office's efforts helped the companies recover $60,000, so he's ramping up the project. WKSU's Bill Cohen reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24851 Wed, 3 Feb 2010 12:30:17 -0500 Bill Cohen Crime and Courts Analysts and experts had predicted a weaker peformance WKSU's Tim Rudell reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24846 Tue, 2 Feb 2010 18:27:01 -0500 Tim Rudell Economy and Business Valerie Stein faces a federal charge of bank fraud for allegedly withdrawing the money from customers' accounts over six years. Federal authorities say this type of fraud at banks large and small is common and can go undetected for years. WKSU's Amanda Rabinowitz reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24845 Tue, 2 Feb 2010 16:23:51 -0500 Amanda Rabinowitz Crime and Courts Groups who fought last fall against the constitutional amendment that set up a board to create standards of livestock care have done as promised - they're coming back with their own counter-measures. WKSU's Karen Kasler reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24843 Tue, 2 Feb 2010 13:08:38 -0500 Karen Kasler Government Another Northeast Ohio hospital is refusing to hire smokers. WKSU's Mike Olszewski reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24841 Tue, 2 Feb 2010 08:37:00 -0500 Mike Olszewski Health and Medicine There's talk of another rail line linking Northeast Ohio to another part of the state. WKSU's Mike Olszewski reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24840 Tue, 2 Feb 2010 08:28:26 -0500 Mike Olszewski Economy and Business It's now official - Ohio Democrats have a new candidate for Secretary of State. WKSU's Bill Cohen reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24844 Tue, 2 Feb 2010 13:25:49 -0500 Bill Cohen Government If you can believe the rhetoric of some Ohio lawmakers, the state may be on the verge of taking politics out of the most politically-driven of its decisions - drawing the boundary lines of legislative districts. Republicans and Democrats each have their own plans and some are hinting that they could adopt elements of both. WKSU's Bill Cohen reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24842 Tue, 2 Feb 2010 11:37:01 -0500 Bill Cohen Government Stark County's second largest employer is recasting itself in the global marketplace WKSU's Tim Rudell reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24839 Mon, 1 Feb 2010 18:22:31 -0500 Tim Rudell Economy and Business President Barack Obama's proposed budget eliminates a major project at Cleveland's NASA Glenn Research Center, but because of the facility's core mission, it is expected to come out ahead. WKSU's Kevin Niedermier reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24838 Mon, 1 Feb 2010 16:17:48 -0500 Kevin Niedermier Economy and Business New signs have gone up along highways in the state declaring: this project is being paid for by federal stimulus dollars. One report says Ohio is spending close to one million dollars on the signs, but Governor Ted Strickland doesn't have a big problem with them. WKSU's Bill Cohen reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24837 Mon, 1 Feb 2010 15:58:49 -0500 Bill Cohen Ohio legislators are now negotiating over how many hundreds of millions of extra dollars the state should borrow to help create high-tech jobs. Whatever compromise they reach will go before Ohio voters in May, so they can have the final word on the matter. WKSU's Bill Cohen reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24831 Mon, 1 Feb 2010 10:01:52 -0500 Bill Cohen Economy and Business Every year, thousands of low and moderate income Ohioans fail to take advantage of a federal tax break that's worth thousands of dollars. That's why top Ohio government officials are revving up a campaign to tell people about it and even offering free tax filing services so they can get the tax break. WKSU's Bill Cohen reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24830 Mon, 1 Feb 2010 09:54:03 -0500 Bill Cohen Economy and Business A recent ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court changed the role corporations can have in political campaigns. The court reversed limits on corporate contributions by allowing companies more freedom of speech and spending in the election process. The Republican who'd like to be Ohio's next Lieutenant Governor, State Auditor Mary Taylor, thinks her grassroots efforts will be enough to prevent outside groups or corporations from drowning out her message. WKSU's Jo Ingles reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24829 Mon, 1 Feb 2010 09:45:10 -0500 Jo Ingles Government Smoking has been banned in most public places in Ohio for about three years, but that ban is rarely enforced. WKSU's Mike Olszewski reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24828 Mon, 1 Feb 2010 09:24:23 -0500 Mike Olszewski Economy and Business A 72-year old Eastlake woman faces up to eight years in prison for stealing more than a half-million dollars from her long-time employer. WKSU's Mike Olszewski reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24827 Mon, 1 Feb 2010 09:21:28 -0500 Mike Olszewski Crime and Courts He's risen to the top ranks among classical music superstars, but Joshua Bell hasn't forgotten how he got there. The violinist gives credit to his friends, family, and the Cleveland Orchestra concertmaster who taught him so well. WKSU's Vivian Goodman reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24823 Mon, 1 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0500 Vivian Goodman Arts and Entertainment Ohio's current state budget is being propped up with several billion dollars from the federal government. Some critics say that means next year, when a new budget needs to be fashioned, it will have a multi-billion dollar hole, because the federal money will evaporate. But Governor Ted Strickland says that's not necessarily true. In fact, Strickland is trying to get a renewal of that one-time bailout. WKSU's Bill Cohen reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24836 Mon, 1 Feb 2010 10:30:59 -0500 Bill Cohen Government It looks like Ohioans will vote next November on whether slot machines should be legalized at race tracks, but its not a done deal. A group seeking a referendum on expanded gambling at racetracks has fallen a little shy in its petition drive but has more time to make up the shortfall. WKSU's Bill Cohen reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24833 Mon, 1 Feb 2010 10:15:42 -0500 Bill Cohen Government The cyber attacks took place shortly after President Obama's State of the Union address Wednesday night WKSU's Tim Rudell reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24826 Fri, 29 Jan 2010 17:24:54 -0500 Tim Rudell Other Stories Three Northeast Ohio counties may appeal to the Ohio Supreme Court to prevent trash from other parts of the state from filling up their landfills. WKSU's Amanda Rabinowitz reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24825 Fri, 29 Jan 2010 16:24:31 -0500 Amanda Rabinowitz Environment When President Barack Obama's new budget proposal comes out next week, Cleveland's NASA Glenn Research Center is expected to lose funding because he canceled a manned space flight program. But the facility will probably gain overall funding through expansion of an as yet un-identified program..... WKSU's Kevin Niedermier reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24824 Fri, 29 Jan 2010 16:10:14 -0500 Kevin Niedermier Economy and Business The Cleveland school district has spent millions of dollars on buildings that will likely be abandoned. WKSU's Mike Olszewski reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24822 Fri, 29 Jan 2010 09:03:17 -0500 Mike Olszewski Education Two attorneys say forcing Fair Finance Company into bankruptcy could be the key to returning money to its investors. WKSU's Mike Olszewski reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24821 Fri, 29 Jan 2010 09:00:33 -0500 Mike Olszewski Economy and Business Domestic violence and abuse is second on the list of top crimes in Ohio. Two state lawmakers say loopholes in the legal system allow it to happen, and they want to close them. WKSU's Karen Kasler reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24835 Mon, 1 Feb 2010 10:27:01 -0500 Karen Kasler Crime and Courts Backers of a passenger train connecting Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati are beginning to see light at the end of the tunnel. The federal government is giving Ohio $400 million to start up the railroad that, up to now, has been a mere dream of train enthusiasts. But some of Ohio's leaders think that dream will soon be a nightmare. WKSU's Jo Ingles reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24834 Mon, 1 Feb 2010 10:20:28 -0500 Jo Ingles Ohio Ohio is getting $400 million in federal stimulus funds to build a passenger rail service. The 3-C rail corridor will connect Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati and Dayton and could be up and running by 2012. The state plans six stations, including 2 in Cleveland. Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown says there's talk about eventually putting a stop somewhere between Cleveland and Pittsburgh, either in Youngstown or somewhere in Portage or Summit County. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24832 Mon, 1 Feb 2010 10:09:26 -0500 Ohio A decade ago, Irish folk music was largely categorized into the light pop style of the Dubliners or the delicate, traditional sound of the Chieftains. Since then groups have been adding some extra punch, often bringing something Irish folk never had: bass. One of the pioneers in the new sound is Solas led by two Americans- Seamus Egan and Winifred Horan. WKSU's Jim Blum reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24820 Thu, 28 Jan 2010 19:52:16 -0500 Jim Blum Arts and Entertainment It looks like Ohioans will probably vote next November on whether slot machines should be legalized at race tracks, but it's not a done deal quite yet. A group seeking a referendum on the plan that state legislators approved has fallen a little short in its petition drive, but it's being given more time to make up the shortfall. Details now from statehouse correspondent Bill Cohen reports. WKSU's Bill Cohen reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24819 Thu, 28 Jan 2010 17:45:54 -0500 Bill Cohen Ohio Cuyahoga County's government reform team wants to reduce spending by 15%. The savings would be used for job creation programs. WKSU's Kevin Niedermier reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24818 Thu, 28 Jan 2010 15:33:04 -0500 Kevin Niedermier Government President Barack Obama has promised to boost jobs and reduce the deficit in his first State of the Union speech. Ohio lawmakers gave the plan mixed reviews. Megan Hughes reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24814 Thu, 28 Jan 2010 10:44:34 -0500 Megan Hughes Government President Obama gave his first State of the Union address last night. The main topic - jobs. The President was in Lorain County last Friday and mentioned Elyria in the speech. Hiram College political science professor Jason Johnson heard the speech and he says it's no surprise the President made the reference to the Buckeye state. WKSU's Jeff St. Clair reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24813 Thu, 28 Jan 2010 10:18:27 -0500 Jeff St. Clair Government The new owners of Cleveland's failed AmTrust bank plan to add staff. WKSU's Mike Olszewski reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24807 Thu, 28 Jan 2010 09:05:06 -0500 Mike Olszewski Economy and Business Cleveland's MetroHealth System has posted a record profit for 2009.. WKSU's Mike Olszewski reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24806 Thu, 28 Jan 2010 08:58:48 -0500 Mike Olszewski Economy and Business Within three years, Ohio is expected to have passenger trains running several times a day between its biggest cities -- with the help of hundreds of millions of federal dollars that will be awarded today. WKSU's M.L. Schultze reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24805 Thu, 28 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0500 M.L. Schultze Ohio Governor Ted Strickland's State of the State address is being lambasted by his Republican opponent in the November election, former Congressman John Kasich. But Kasich's analysis is being lambasted by the chair of the Ohio Democratic Party. WKSU's Bill Cohen reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24817 Thu, 28 Jan 2010 11:10:56 -0500 Bill Cohen Government Ohio voters will indeed decide the fate of yet another gambling issue. But Youngstown's hopes for a casino have been dashed for now. Voters will decide in May whether to move the location of a Columbus casino - though lawmakers shot down an effort to add Youngstown to the list of cities with casinos. WKSU's Bill Cohen reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24816 Thu, 28 Jan 2010 11:04:00 -0500 Bill Cohen Government The Ohio Supreme Court has ruled a state law that makes it illegal to send pornographic material to people under the age of 18 is constitutional. The law has been questioned because some people thought it could be over-reaching by applying to chat rooms or blogs and other internet communication that could be accessible to children. Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray says the court ruling has put those concerns to rest. WKSU's Jo Ingles reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24815 Thu, 28 Jan 2010 10:52:46 -0500 Jo Ingles Crime and Courts Here is President Obama's first State of the Union speech and the response from Virginia's newly elected Republican governor, Bob McDonnell. WKSU's M.L. Schultze reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24804 Wed, 27 Jan 2010 19:49:27 -0500 M.L. Schultze Politics Ohio Governor Ted Strickland wants to increase what Ohio spends through its Third Frontier program. And he says the more conservative funding proposed by Senate Republicans will stifle high-tech job growth. The Senate wants about half of what the governor and the House have proposed for the widely praised technology funding program. WKSU's Kevin Niedermier reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24803 Wed, 27 Jan 2010 17:46:31 -0500 Kevin Niedermier Government The idea is to help students reach graduation faster and more cost-efficiently WKSU's Tim Rudell reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24802 Wed, 27 Jan 2010 15:14:48 -0500 Tim Rudell Education The Cleveland school board has adopted a new policy to protect employees who report criminal and other inappropriate behavior on the part of their bosses and coworkers. WKSU's Mike Olszewski reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24801 Wed, 27 Jan 2010 09:19:18 -0500 Mike Olszewski Education A research team from Cleveland State University is taking a close look at Hopkins International Airport as a possible center for economic development. WKSU's Mike Olszewski reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24800 Wed, 27 Jan 2010 09:14:16 -0500 Mike Olszewski Economy and Business An estimated fifteen hundred people showed up. WKSU's Tim Rudell reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24799 Wed, 27 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0500 Tim Rudell Economy and Business Very few Division III college football players get a chance to play in the NFL. But former Mount Union standout Pierre Garcon will star in next week's Super Bowl with the Indianapolis Colts. The Plain Dealer's Terry Pluto talks to WKSU's Amanda Rabinowitz about how Garcon got his shot. WKSU's Amanda Rabinowitz reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24796 Wed, 27 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0500 Amanda Rabinowitz Sports The Ohio Supreme Court will decided if First Energy can strung high tension power lines through rural Geauga County. The case the justices heard today hinges largely on questions of bureaucratic procedures. But one justice in particular focused on the threat to the natural beauty of the northeast Ohio county. WKSU's M.L. Schultze reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24812 Thu, 28 Jan 2010 10:13:04 -0500 M.L. Schultze Crime and Courts Governor Strickland's State of the State speech today focused on the economy: from loosening credit, to boosting green jobs to better blending university research with private industry production. Several Northeast Ohio programs got special mention. that included Strickland's call for Ohio to blend its agricultural industry with Akron-based polymer research and development. WKSU's M.L. Schultze reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24811 Thu, 28 Jan 2010 10:00:36 -0500 M.L. Schultze Government Governor Ted Strickland's speech Tuesday drew mixed reviews from Ohio legislators, pretty much along party lines. The Democratic governor outlined several proposals he contended could help the state recover from its economic doldrums. WKSU's Bill Cohen reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24809 Thu, 28 Jan 2010 09:35:35 -0500 Bill Cohen Government Ohio Governor Ted Strickland wants to create some new jobs and education programs to help bring economic recovery to the Buckeye state. In his State of the State, Strickland outlines several new programs that he says will make it easier for businesses to do business in Ohio. WKSU's Jo Ingles reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24808 Thu, 28 Jan 2010 09:27:49 -0500 Jo Ingles Government FirstMerit ended the year with earnings below what analysts expected and its stock took a hit. But overall, 2009 was relatively good for the Akron-based bank -- at least when compared to other national and regional banks. It made a profit and is expanding. In a conference call with analysts today (Tuesday), CEO Paul Greig said the solid annual results are attracting new customers to FirstMerit from less-stable competitors. Kaylee Remington reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24798 Tue, 26 Jan 2010 18:23:12 -0500 Kaylee Remington Economy and Business Ohio Governor Ted Strickland wants to create some new jobs and education programs to help bring economic recovery to the buckeye state. In his State of the State, Strickland outlined several new programs that he says will make it easier for businesses to do business in Ohio. Statehouse correspondent Jo Ingles reports. WKSU's Jo Ingles reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24797 Tue, 26 Jan 2010 15:20:41 -0500 Jo Ingles Economy and Business Gov. Ted Strickland focused on green jobs as the place where Ohio has made the most progress -- and as its best hope to make more progress in helping the economy recover. He also touted the higher performance of Ohio schools on national rankings and proposed more public-private partnerships to boost small businesses and research. Here's the speech and analysis and interviews by our statehouse correspondents Karen Kasler and Bill Cohen WKSU's Karen Kasler and Bill Cohen report. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24795 Tue, 26 Jan 2010 12:54:33 -0500 Karen Kasler and Bill Cohen Ohio Ohio legislators on Tuesday will be listening carefully to Governor Ted Strickland's state-of-the-state address. But they will also have some work to do on their own. In fact, they're hoping to wrap up work on a plan they hope will help create more high-tech jobs. WKSU's Bill Cohen reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24791 Tue, 26 Jan 2010 11:07:02 -0500 Bill Cohen Government The planned restart of a steel mill in Warren this March is seen as the latest sign that the industry in America and in Northeast Ohio is creeping back. WKSU's M.L. Schultze reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24788 Tue, 26 Jan 2010 09:58:35 -0500 M.L. Schultze WKSU's Mike Olszewski reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24787 Tue, 26 Jan 2010 08:44:33 -0500 Mike Olszewski Environment Some Northeast Ohio auto dealers are hoping to win their franchises back through arbitration. WKSU's Mike Olszewski reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24785 Tue, 26 Jan 2010 08:36:55 -0500 Mike Olszewski Economy and Business There's been a lot of talk about how legislation has moved slowly at the Statehouse over the last few months. But lawmakers may need to make some changes in the state's complicated campaign finance laws, after a ruling that corporations and unions may spend as much as they want to support or oppose political candidates. WKSU's Karen Kasler reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24810 Thu, 28 Jan 2010 09:42:10 -0500 Karen Kasler Crime and Courts Nearly one third of people who live in the cities of Cleveland and Akron have an income below the poverty line. But a report released last week by the Brookings Institution shows poverty is growing fastest in the suburbs of Northeast Ohio and the rest of the country. Elizabeth Kneebone coauthored the study. She says the new economic landscape means assumptions about poverty in America need updating. WKSU's Jeff St. Clair reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24793 Tue, 26 Jan 2010 11:40:20 -0500 Jeff St. Clair Economy and Business President Obama will deliver his first official State of the Union speech this week, just after visiting northeast Ohio to talk about his plans for dealing with health care legislation and the economy. Reporters from public radio stations around the state hit the streets to ask Ohioans what grade they would give President Obama for his first year in office. WKSU's Karen Kasler reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24792 Tue, 26 Jan 2010 11:18:30 -0500 Karen Kasler Government The first poll of 2010 is out, showing how close the race for governor is shaping up to be. WKSU's Karen Kasler reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24790 Tue, 26 Jan 2010 10:59:32 -0500 Karen Kasler Government A week ago at this time, the Republican party didn't have a candidate in place for Ohio Auditor. Now there are two GOP members running for the post that will be vacated at the end of the year by current Republican auditor Mary Taylor. She's now the running mate for Republican Gubernatorial candidate John Kasich. WKSU's Jo Ingles reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24789 Tue, 26 Jan 2010 10:53:24 -0500 Jo Ingles Government The city plans to create a financial incentive program for biomedical companies to go along with zoning changes to aid their development WKSU's Tim Rudell reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24784 Mon, 25 Jan 2010 17:52:26 -0500 Tim Rudell Economy and Business Cleveland's more than decade-old West Shoreway project has received Ohio House approval to reduce the downtown roadway's speed limit. It's an important step in plans to turn the Shoreway into a tree lined boulevard. WKSU's Kevin Niedermier reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24783 Mon, 25 Jan 2010 16:44:07 -0500 Kevin Niedermier Government Speculation about University Circle development chief Chris Ronayne running for Cuyahoga County executive is over. Today on his Facebook page, Ronayne announced he will run for a county council seat instead. WKSU's Kevin Niedermier reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24782 Mon, 25 Jan 2010 16:15:07 -0500 Kevin Niedermier Government WKSU's Vivian Goodman spoke with Cleveland Orchestra percussionist Mark Damoulakis, about how the musicians quickly organized a benefit concert for Wednesday night with all proceeds going to Partners in Health, a group that's been on the ground in Haiti for more than 20 years. WKSU's Vivian Goodman reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24781 Mon, 25 Jan 2010 15:18:17 -0500 Vivian Goodman The Ohio Department of Public Safety reports tens of thousands of Ohioans are paying late fees for their driver's license and car registration renewals these days. Lindsey Borror of the Ohio Department of Public Safety explains Ohioans are being hit with late fees because of a change in rules that went into effect last fall. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24780 Mon, 25 Jan 2010 10:10:06 -0500 Ohio's official unemployment rate hit 10.9% in December, up from 10.6% in November. That brings the total number of Ohioans who are out of work up to 641,000. And the state is predicting we've haven't topped out yet. Brian Harter of the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services expects the number will reach as high as 11.5% this year as people who have been out of the job market start looking for work again. WKSU's Bill Cohen reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24779 Mon, 25 Jan 2010 10:04:32 -0500 Bill Cohen The Chrysler stamping plant in Twinsburg will now close down at the end of June, three months later than originally expected. UAW Local 122 President Doug Rice says demand from the Cash for Clunkers program helped sustain production, but at this point it looks like June will be the final closing. Rice says whoever moves into the massive plant will get a state of the art facility. WKSU's Mike Olszewski reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24778 Mon, 25 Jan 2010 09:41:55 -0500 Mike Olszewski Economy and Business Twinsburg's Chrysler stamping plant has been given a three-month reprieve by the company. The plant was originally supposed to close down by the end of March, but UAW Local 122 President Doug Rice says a surge in auto sales delayed that closing until the end of June. WKSU's Mike Olszewski reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24777 Mon, 25 Jan 2010 09:37:00 -0500 Mike Olszewski Economy and Business The Cleveland Catolic Diocese is not happy with city plans to have six more churches designated as historical city landmarks. WKSU's Mike Olszewski reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24776 Mon, 25 Jan 2010 09:13:50 -0500 Mike Olszewski Government The involuntary manslaughter trial of three former workers at a Parma group home for troubled kids is scheduled to begin this week. The Cuyahoga County case already has led to a statewide ban on the type of restraint that led to the 17-year-old girl's death. WKSU's M.L. Schultze reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24775 Mon, 25 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0500 M.L. Schultze Crime and Courts Congressman John Boccieri has called togther investigators, regulators and financial experts to help provide answers WKSU's Tim Rudell reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24774 Sat, 23 Jan 2010 13:42:14 -0500 Tim Rudell Economy and Business Bernsen says the production will be centered in Akron and involve the community WKSU's Tim Rudell reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24773 Sat, 23 Jan 2010 13:29:14 -0500 Tim Rudell Arts and Entertainment The biggest shareholder in the company that owns Cedar Point is digging in against the planned multi-billion-dollar sale of the company. But Sandusky's Cedar Fair continues to defend the deal. WKSU's M.L. Schultze reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24772 Fri, 22 Jan 2010 18:23:19 -0500 M.L. Schultze Ohio President Barack Obama used a town hall meeting in Lorain County today to re-energize his call for job creation and health care reform. WKSU's Amanda Rabinowitz reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24771 Fri, 22 Jan 2010 16:54:56 -0500 Amanda Rabinowitz Economy and Business Cuyahoga County taxpayers will pay much more for financial audits because of the on-going corruption probe. And the probe could indirectly cost the county millions of dollars more in another way. WKSU's Kevin Niedermier reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24769 Fri, 22 Jan 2010 16:46:10 -0500 Kevin Niedermier Government A Republican member of the Ohio House of Representatives has thrown his hat in the ring to run for Ohio Auditor. WKSU's Jo Ingles reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24768 Fri, 22 Jan 2010 16:26:47 -0500 Jo Ingles Government State money to pay counselors to help Ohio homeowners challenge foreclosure filings is running out. That's why homeowners and their advocates are telling legislators to find extra cash, by slapping a new feel on lenders. WKSU's Bill Cohen reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24767 Fri, 22 Jan 2010 16:17:01 -0500 Bill Cohen Economy and Business President Obama had promised his State of the Union speech wouldn't interfere with the premiere of the popular ABC-TV show "Lost". But the speech was going to conflict with another planned event in Ohio until now. WKSU's Karen Kasler reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24766 Fri, 22 Jan 2010 16:08:53 -0500 Karen Kasler Government Ohio's official unemployment rate has gone up again. The newly-announced rate for December is 10.9 per cent....up from 10.6 in November. 17-thousand more Ohioans joined the ranks of the unemployed in December. That brings the total number of jobless to 641-thousand. Brian Harter helps track the numbers at the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. And he talks here with Ohio Public Radio's Bill Cohen. WKSU's Bill Cohen reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24765 Fri, 22 Jan 2010 11:41:10 -0500 Bill Cohen Economy and Business The Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the World Champion Los Angeles Lakers 93-87 at the Quicken Loans Arena. The Cavs' victory is the second in a row against L.A. and the teams won't face each other again this season unless they both wind up in the NBA Finals. Yesterday's game could have repercussions for the remaining season. WKSU's Mark Urycki reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24764 Fri, 22 Jan 2010 09:20:29 -0500 Mark Urycki Sports President Obama's visit to Lorain today is dubbed his "White House to Main Street tour." Mike Dempsey actually lives on Main Street " in the western Lorain County suburb of Amherst. He's one of many in the once booming industrial county trying to reinvent himself " while trying to support his wife and five young children. WKSU's Amanda Rabinowitz reports in the third of a series looking at the community the President will be hearing from. WKSU's Amanda Rabinowitz reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24761 Fri, 22 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0500 Amanda Rabinowitz Economy and Business