http://www.wksu.org/news/ WKSU News Headlines en-us Copyright 2009, WKSU Radio Fri, 3 Jul 2009 09:33:06 -0400 WKSU RSS Generator 1.1 - Two more people plead guilty in Cuyahoga County corruption probe. - Butler County man dies of swine flu. - Metro RTA using $8 million in federal stimulus money to buy new buses. - Cavs introduce Shaq to Cleveland, says he wants to "win a ring for the King." - Indians open a weekend series with Oakland's A tonight at Progressive Field. WKSU's Amanda Rabinowitz reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/23395 Fri, 3 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0400 rabinowitz@wksu.org (Amanda Rabinowitz) Cuyahoga County's Republican party hopes to have the tens of thousands of petition signatures it needs within weeks to try to oust county commissioner Jimmy Dimora. The G.O.P says a massive federal corruption probe has crippled the Democrat's ability to govern. WKSU's Kevin Niedermier reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/23672 Thu, 2 Jul 2009 17:14:57 -0400 niedermier@wksu.org (Kevin Niedermier) Government For Cleveland Cavalier fans it was a big day as the team's new "big" man was officially introduced. He says he's here to "win a ring or the king." WKSU's Tim Rudell reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/23671 Thu, 2 Jul 2009 16:59:58 -0400 rudell@wksu.org (Tim Rudell) Sports It was a tough day for some Ohio Lottery retailers, who have been dealing with glitches from a vendor switch-over. The Lottery says a few winning tickets were not recognized, and the new system did not properly read some tickets from the system being replaced. Lottery director Mike Dolan says it was a major undertaking. WKSU's Karen Kasler reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/23669 Thu, 2 Jul 2009 16:00:26 -0400 letters@wksu.org (Karen Kasler) Ohio Ohio is now operating on a temporary one week budget and another week budget appears to be in the works if lawmakers don't pass a new permanent two year budget by Tuesday. But some groups that rely on state money say their organizations can't operate effectively because they don't know how much money they'll be getting in the permanent budget. Democratic state representative Jennifer Garrison says she's not a fan of the temporary budgets either because they do not allow the state to attract federal dollars for which it would be eligible. WKSU's Jo Ingles reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/23667 Thu, 2 Jul 2009 15:45:29 -0400 letters@wksu.org (Jo Ingles) Government A southwest Ohio man is the first victim in Ohio to die of the H1N1 virus. Kristopher Weiss of the Ohio Health Department explains the disease is taking its toll on Ohioans. Weiss says the best way to prevent the spread of the disease is to stay home when you are ill. Frequent hand-washing is also recommended. More than 60 Ohioans, ages 18 or younger, have been diagnosed with the H1N1 virus. WKSU's Jo Ingles reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/23661 Thu, 2 Jul 2009 13:39:10 -0400 letters@wksu.org (Jo Ingles) Health and Medicine The Ohio Supreme Court says parents who are suing over their underage daughter's abortion cannot see confidential medical records of other girls and women who went to the same clinic. WKSU's Karen Kasler reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/23670 Thu, 2 Jul 2009 16:05:27 -0400 letters@wksu.org (Karen Kasler) Health and Medicine Ohio is now operating on a one-week temporary budget and another one-week budget is in the works in case state leaders don't pass a permanent budget by Tuesday. The temporary budget is meant to allow agencies to continue to operate while budget negotiations continue but as Statehouse correspondent Jo Ingles reports, some groups are finding it hard to get by right now under uncertain circumstances. WKSU's Jo Ingles reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/23668 Thu, 2 Jul 2009 15:53:20 -0400 letters@wksu.org (Jo Ingles) Government The deadlock over a new two-year state budget for Ohio continues at the capitol, but there are a couple new wrinkles. WKSU's Bill Cohen reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/23666 Thu, 2 Jul 2009 15:40:47 -0400 letters@wksu.org (Bill Cohen) Government Tensions are high between Democrats and Republicans in the Ohio legislature because of a deadlock over a new two-year state budget. And the stalemate is spilling over into other issues. In fact, two other proposals that lawmakers generally agree on are now in limbo because of the partisan squabbling. WKSU's Bill Cohen reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/23665 Thu, 2 Jul 2009 15:36:56 -0400 letters@wksu.org (Bill Cohen) Government Environmentalists say a new report shows Ohioans will spend more than $993 billion on fossil fuels during the next 20 years if major advances aren't made in clean energy technologies. Jeff Greenfield own a company in southern Ohio that makes solar panels. He says what Ohio does right now to bring new energy technology to the state will determine what happens with the industry in the future. WKSU's Jo Ingles reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/23663 Thu, 2 Jul 2009 15:17:32 -0400 letters@wksu.org (Jo Ingles) Environment Safety officials throughout the state are warning Ohioans to beware of backyard fireworks displays. While most fireworks sold in Ohio cannot legally be set off here, there are some that can be used. By Dr. Gary Smith with Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus says parents should think twice before allowing their children to play with legal fireworks like sparklers. WKSU's Jo Ingles reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/23662 Thu, 2 Jul 2009 15:07:27 -0400 letters@wksu.org (Jo Ingles) Health and Medicine J. Kevin Kelly will likely serve six to seven years in federal prison for his role in the massive Cuyahoga County corruption scandal. WKSU's M.L. Schultze has more on Kelley's plea deal today (Wednesday) in federal court... WKSU's M.L. Schultze reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/23660 Wed, 1 Jul 2009 18:34:53 -0400 schultze@wksu.org (M.L. Schultze) Government Cleveland was the backdrop for the announcement of a federal program to put billions of dollars into expanding broadband internet access in urban and rural areas. The Obama administration believes it's a key to economic development. WKSU's Kevin Niedermier reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/23659 Wed, 1 Jul 2009 18:16:29 -0400 niedermier@wksu.org (Kevin Niedermier) Economy and Business Since the 2006 inception of the project development partners have been seeking but not finding an operator for the local grocery component of a retail revitalization for Highland Square. Mayor Don Plusquellic says the city will now step in and try to forge a deal with a pair of non-profit organizations to create an appropriate size store that can serve the basic needs of the community, and at the same time advance their missions to help persons with disabilities. WKSU's Tim Rudell reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/23658 Wed, 1 Jul 2009 16:52:27 -0400 rudell@wksu.org (Tim Rudell) Lifestyle The stalemate over a new two-year state budget for Ohio continues at the Statehouse in Columbus. That's why state lawmakers have just approved a one-week interim budget to keep state government afloat, until a more long-range spending package is passed. WKSU's Bill Cohen reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/23656 Wed, 1 Jul 2009 11:15:31 -0400 letters@wksu.org (Bill Cohen) Starting today, the speed limit for trucks on Ohio's rural and suburban highways will rise from 55 miles an hour to 65. WKSU's Bill Cohen reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/23655 Wed, 1 Jul 2009 11:09:59 -0400 letters@wksu.org (Bill Cohen) Ohio . The Cleveland Cavaliers enter the free agency signing period today with money to spend and a number of prospects. Meanwhile, the Indians sit in last place and the outlook for the future is worse. WKSU commentator and Plain Dealer columnist Terry Pluto joins Amanda Rabinowitz each week to talk sports WKSU's Amanda Rabinowitz reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/23654 Wed, 1 Jul 2009 10:33:49 -0400 rabinowitz@wksu.org (Amanda Rabinowitz) Sports Ohioans with disabilities are one of the most recent groups that have rallied at the Ohio Statehouse to protest proposed budget cuts. Advocate Sue Hetrick says lawmakers need to provide more money in the budget for people with disabilities who don't want to live in nursing homes. WKSU's Jo Ingles reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/23664 Thu, 2 Jul 2009 15:22:21 -0400 letters@wksu.org (Jo Ingles) Government The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating a pair of close calls on Cleveland Hopkins Airport's runway this month. WKSU's Kevin Niedermier reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/23653 Tue, 30 Jun 2009 17:49:53 -0400 niedermier@wksu.org (Kevin Niedermier) Government A long running project to get more life out of Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority light rail cars should wrap-up by the end of the year, but it'll cost millions more than originally planned. WKSU's Kevin Niedermier reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/23651 Tue, 30 Jun 2009 16:54:37 -0400 niedermier@wksu.org (Kevin Niedermier) Government Cleveland sewer district staff are no closer to finding the source of a non-petroleum oil spill that killed hundreds of birds in the Cuyahoga River last week. WKSU's Karen Schaefer reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/23650 Tue, 30 Jun 2009 16:14:37 -0400 schaefer@wksu.org (Karen Schaefer) Environment After 15 years, the U.S. EPA is still trying to figure out what to do about toxic chemicals dumped in a west Akron neighborhood for decades. The EPA discovered that a series of drycleaners at Copley Square Plaza had dumped wastewater with the chemicals into pits in the ground, polluting nearby water up to 20 feet under the ground. Today, the mess remains, and the EPA is asking community members for feedback on a proposed clean-up plan. The EPA project lead, Sam Chummar says the agency wants the cleanup to come in two stages. By Holly Schoenstein reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/23649 Tue, 30 Jun 2009 15:47:02 -0400 letters@wksu.org (By Holly Schoenstein) Environment While lawmakers themselves are busy trying to come up with a new two-year state budget, the people who work for those legislators are busy with another task - answering the phones. WKSU's Jo Ingles reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/23648 Tue, 30 Jun 2009 12:43:09 -0400 letters@wksu.org (Jo Ingles) Government NASA astronaut and Broadview Heights native Michael Good helped repair and upgrade the 19-year old Hubble Space Telescope. The astronauts' fifth overhaul of the telescope will also be the last. With the retirement of the space shuttle in 2010, NASA will lose the ability to visit orbiting satellites and fix them in space. WKSU's Karen Schaefer reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/23644 Tue, 30 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0400 schaefer@wksu.org (Karen Schaefer) Science and Technology One of the great things about baseball is that when you go to a game, you may see something you've never seen before: a player hitting for the cycle, Len Barker's perfect game, Asdrubal Cabrera's unassisted triple play, or a slow-footed catcher named Glenn Brummer trying to steal home in the bottom of the twelfth and making it. But WKSU commentator Paul Gaston can top that with the very first major league game he ever say, 50 years ago today. WKSU's Paul Gaston reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/23608 Tue, 30 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0400 letters@wksu.org (Paul Gaston) Commentary Ohio's attorney general has filed a lawsuit against three Ohio companies in his ongoing efforts to rid the state of foreclosure rescue scams. AG Richard Cordray explains how he's taking action against companies that he says are preying on homeowners who are struggling to pay their mortgages. WKSU's Jo Ingles reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/23647 Tue, 30 Jun 2009 12:39:39 -0400 letters@wksu.org (Jo Ingles) Crime and Courts With one exception, House members from Northeast Ohio voted along party lines on a landmark climate change bill. Matt Laslo reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/23646 Tue, 30 Jun 2009 12:33:02 -0400 letters@wksu.org (Matt Laslo) Government The former president of a mortgage company convicted of bilking Northeast Ohio investors, homeowners and lenders out of more than 16- million dollars is headed to prison. WKSU's Amanda Rabinowitz reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/23643 Mon, 29 Jun 2009 12:40:58 -0400 rabinowitz@wksu.org (Amanda Rabinowitz) Crime and Courts Ohio legislators and the Governor have given up trying to hammer out a compromise two-year state budget by the Wednesday morning deadline. Instead, they now plan to enact a short-term budget to give them more time. WKSU's Bill Cohen reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/23641 Mon, 29 Jun 2009 11:17:02 -0400 letters@wksu.org (Bill Cohen) Government It remains an open question as to whether turning Thistledown into a "Racino" by adding slots or other casino style gambling would save the track, and horse racing in Ohio WKSU's Tim Rudell reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/23639 Mon, 29 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0400 rudell@wksu.org (Tim Rudell) Economy and Business