http://www.wksu.org/news/ WKSU News Headlines en-us Copyright 2013, WKSU Radio Wed, 19 Jun 2013 14:57:42 -0400 WKSU RSS Generator 1.1 The former director of the nation's fifth largest VA Clinic has been indicted on bribery and other federal charges. WKSU's M.L. Schultze has more on the accusations leveled today against man who headed the Louis Stokes VA Medical Center in Cleveland. WKSU's M.L. Schultze reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/35952 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 14:17:35 -0400 M.L. Schultze Crime and Courts Task force recommends way to cut sexual assaults in Ohio juvenile prisons Akron hikes tuition, cuts positions Chardon coach who chased shooter is SI cover story Accused Cleveland kidnapper faces more charges WKSU's M.L. Schultze reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/35950 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 12:15:35 -0400 M.L. Schultze Ohio Ariel Castro already faces more than 300 charges, and formally learned this morning that more are likely on their way. Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Tim McGinty laid that out at the first pre-trial hearing for the 52-year-old Castro, who's accused of holding three women captive for a decade in his West Side Cleveland home. WKSU's M.L. Schultze and GRACE MURRAY report. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/35948 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 11:07:37 -0400 M.L. Schultze and GRACE MURRAY Crime and Courts There's a lot that Ohio's Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown likes about the immigration bill being debated this week.  Brown says the Senate version clears a pathway to citizenship for millions of people, it increases border security, and it cracks down on employers hiring undocumented workers.  But Brown says one part needs to be fixed.  Brown, with Republican Charles Grassley of Iowa, has introduced an amendment that he says will require hi-tech employers to hire qualified Americans before seeking overseas workers. WKSU's Jeff St. Clair reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/35947 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 10:47:46 -0400 Jeff St. Clair Politics Canton officials are attempting to restructure their government to mirror the majority of the largest cities in Ohio - a charter government. The proposed switch from a statutory government to a charter would allow Canton to make policy changes at the local level instead of turning to state officials to write its laws and regulations. City Council Member Edmond Mack says he expects resistance as Canton considers a charter government for the eighth time. But he believes now is the time to make the switch. GRACE MURRAY reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/35941 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 08:17:33 -0400 GRACE MURRAY Government Cleveland kidnapping suspect Castro back in court today Ohio Republican lawmakers propose new abortion measure Ohio House leader says Medicaid resolution unlikely this month Ohio will have $400 million left over in current budget Three more Pilot Flying J employees plead guilty Ashland trio arrested on suspicion of slavery New trial date for Cleveland sleepover arson death suspect EPA says no fracking water report until 2016 Ohio appeals court upholds juvenile sex offender provision   WKSU's Amanda Rabinowitz reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/35940 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 08:01:25 -0400 Amanda Rabinowitz The San Antonio Spurs are the underdogs in the NBA finals against LeBron James and the Miami Heat. But the team of aging veterans has pushed the defending champion, star-studded Heat to a decisive game seven on Thursday.WKSU commentator Terry Pluto says he's pulling for the Spurs. But unlike many Clevelanders, it's not simply because he wants to see former Cavalier LeBron James lose. WKSU's Amanda Rabinowitz reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/35930 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 00:00:00 -0400 Amanda Rabinowitz Ohio lawmakers continue to grapple with the question of whether to expand Medicaid. Gov. Kasich, business groups and Democrats want the state to expand the health-care program for poor people as part of the budget. But conservatives in the Legislature see that as buying into Obamacare and throwing good money into a flawed program. As Ohio Public Radio's Jo Ingles reports, lawmakers are considering various bills to deal with the medical program for the poor in the future. WKSU's Jo Ingles reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/35939 Tue, 18 Jun 2013 22:32:40 -0400 Jo Ingles Politics Ohio's colleges of education graduate about 6,000 new teachers each year. Now a new report says many of those colleges aren't doing a good job of preparing teachers for the classroom. StateImpact Ohio's Molly Bloom reports. WKSU's Molly Bloom reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/35938 Tue, 18 Jun 2013 21:10:00 -0400 Molly Bloom Education Again, no money is coming in the immediate future for victims of the Fair Finance fraud. In a status report to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Akron, the Fair Finance bankruptcy trustee said winning judgments against figures in the case has been relatively successful, but collecting on those,not so much.  WKSU's Tim Rudell reports. WKSU's Tim Rudell reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/35937 Tue, 18 Jun 2013 17:37:05 -0400 Tim Rudell Crime and Courts The committee working out the differences between the House and Senate versions of the state budget now has updated estimates on tax revenues and the cost of Medicaid. Those numbers were higher than previous estimates, but they came with a caution. WKSU's Karen Kasler reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/35936 Tue, 18 Jun 2013 16:56:16 -0400 Karen Kasler Government Three Ashland residents have been arrested, accused of holding a mentally disabled women and her child against their will for nearly two years. Federal prosecutors say the suspects have been charged with forced labor for making the woman cook and clean for them. Prosecutors say the woman was threatened and beaten, and her and her child were forced to live in unsanitary conditions. Ashland Police Lt. Joel Eisenhower says the victim suffered a brain injury as a teenager, and now has the mental capacity of a 13-year old. He says the case broke last October when the woman shoplifted a candy bar so she could escape by being arrested. She then told the police about how she was being treated. WKSU's Kevin Niedermier reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/35934 Tue, 18 Jun 2013 15:25:48 -0400 Kevin Niedermier Crime and Courts U.S. News and World Report and the National Council on Teacher Quality today released a report on how well our colleges and universities are training future teachers.Most Ohio education programs did poorly. The University of Akron, University of Toledo and Kent State University received very low grades for most of their teacher training programs.WKSU's Vivian Goodman spoke with Kent State Education Program Dean Dan Mahony about the low rankings. Mahony says the report focuses too much on course work and syllabi. WKSU's Vivian Goodman reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/35933 Tue, 18 Jun 2013 15:13:55 -0400 Vivian Goodman Education Dayton racino gets major loan Medina School Board approves levy for November Cedar Pt. and King's Island on list of nation's most popular amusement parks  WKSU's Jeff St. Clair reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/35931 Tue, 18 Jun 2013 11:57:49 -0400 Jeff St. Clair A state lawmaker says Ohio is not doing enough to be in compliance with the federal Motor Voter law. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the state of Arizona needs to follow the federal law that makes voter registration easier. But Democratic State Rep. Kathleen Clyde says Ohio is also not in compliance. WKSU's Mark Urycki reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/35929 Tue, 18 Jun 2013 08:16:13 -0400 Mark Urycki Ohio 100 in North Ridgeville protest feral kitten shootings Turnpike commission finalizes $1 billion in bonds Browns cancel Bon Jovi concert and rally Two Medicaid proposals to be discussed today Day care worker denies allegedly drugging kids Jury rules church should pay woman $3.6 million Summit Metro Parks to ask for renewal levy WKSU's Amanda Rabinowitz reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/35928 Tue, 18 Jun 2013 06:25:47 -0400 Amanda Rabinowitz This week, The Plain Dealer and public radio's StateImpact Ohio collaboration have been reporting on a new measure of teacher performance called "value-added." It rates individual teachers based on the amount of progress their students make, using test scores and a complex statistical formula.  About 16,000 teachers are tracked now in the initial roll out.  The results will play a major role in determining a teacher's pay, starting next year in some schools.  That would be huge change for Ohio.  StateImpact's Ida Lieszkovsky has our latest installment in our series: "Grading the Teachers." WKSU's Ida Lieszkovszky reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/35918 Tue, 18 Jun 2013 00:00:00 -0400 Ida Lieszkovszky Education Coal fired power plants in Ohio could be required to limit the amount of pollutants discharged into waterways if a new set of US EPA rules is enacted. WKSU's Jeff St. Clair reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/35927 Mon, 17 Jun 2013 17:34:23 -0400 Jeff St. Clair Government Education funding and tax cuts are two of the main issues a six-member committee will tackle tomorrow  as they begin work on the final blueprint for Ohio's budget. Republican Scott Oelslager is a member of the conference committee negotiating differences between the House and Senate versions. The Stark County Senator expects the committee of four Republicans and two Democrats to compromise on a budget that spurs job growth. GRACE MURRAY reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/35926 Mon, 17 Jun 2013 17:09:01 -0400 GRACE MURRAY Government A leak in a pipe in the reactor cooling system is causing a short-term shutdown of the Perry nuclear power plant.  WKSU's Tim Rudell reports that the problem started over the weekend, and the response to it is continuing WKSU's Tim Rudell reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/35924 Mon, 17 Jun 2013 15:32:00 -0400 Tim Rudell Economy and Business WKSU's Jeff St. Clair reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/35921 Mon, 17 Jun 2013 13:03:23 -0400 Jeff St. Clair Military vets running out of time for bonuses Northeast Ohio well-represented on state budget committee Ohio posts record flu cases Gas prices are moving back down Lawmakers debate new regulations for capturing loose dogs Statehouse proposal calls for $2 million in security upgrades Cleveland gun buyback nets 352 firearms Ohio AG: Be wary of new rental property scam Beachwood officer shoots suspect   WKSU's Amanda Rabinowitz reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/35917 Mon, 17 Jun 2013 09:11:18 -0400 Amanda Rabinowitz Americans spend around $4.3 billion each year on herbal medicine.  Nearly one out of five take botanicals of some kind each day, very few of them under doctor's orders.  But in this week's Exploradio, WKSU's Jeff St.Clair finds that researchers at the Northeast Ohio Medical University are proving plants can provide powerful medicine.   WKSU's Jeff St. Clair reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/35915 Mon, 17 Jun 2013 00:00:00 -0400 Jeff St. Clair Health and Medicine What makes a good teacher?  That question is at the heart of efforts to radically alter the way teachers are evaluated and rewarded.  Ohio is one of 32  states trying out a new yardstick called "value added."  It's rigorous, data driven and controversial.   StateImpact Ohio and The Plain Dealer have analyzed initial results from the process in a series we're calling "Grading the Teachers." WKSU's Ida Lieszkovszky and Molly Bloom report. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/35914 Mon, 17 Jun 2013 00:00:00 -0400 Ida Lieszkovszky and Molly Bloom Education The Cleveland Police Department held its annual gun buyback over the weekend, swapping gift cards for certain types of firearms. Opponents say such programs waste taxpayer dollars and destroy desirable weapons. And as WKSU's Kabir Bhatia reports, in many cases it comes down to a matter of economics. WKSU's Kabir Bhatia reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/35916 Sun, 16 Jun 2013 16:28:27 -0400 Kabir Bhatia Crime and Courts Parts of the city of Akron's website are open for business after a hacking attack last month.The site is able to process payroll tax payments, which are due tomorrow (Saturday). But several parts of the site remain off-line during repair efforts.A Turkish group claimed responsibility for the hacking attack and leaked thousands of taxpayer records online. The FBI is investigating, as other cities -- including Lansing, Mich., and Mobile, Ala., -- were also hit.Akron has been in contact with several credit-reporting agencies to provide free or expedited assistance to anyone affected. WKSU's Kabir Bhatia reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/35913 Fri, 14 Jun 2013 17:34:10 -0400 Kabir Bhatia Crime and Courts As advocates for Medicaid expansion continue to hope lawmakers will consider it, legislators from both parties have introduced a bill that they say will reform the government insurance program for low-income people. WKSU's Karen Kasler reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/35912 Fri, 14 Jun 2013 16:31:27 -0400 Karen Kasler Politics Two controversial bills backed by abortion opponents are making their way through the state budget process. Now, there's a free-standing bill in the Ohio Legislature that would limit and enact new rules for abortions performed in the state. Backers say it would reduce the number of abortions in Ohio. Opponents say it will deny women their constitutional rights and dictate questionable health practices and information. WKSU's Jo Ingles reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/35911 Fri, 14 Jun 2013 16:25:05 -0400 Jo Ingles Politics Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson is accusing Ohio's attorney general of tainting the criminal investigation into last November's massive police chase and shooting that left two people dead. The criticism focuses on how the attorney general handled a report he released four months ago that found big failures in Cleveland's department. WKSU's Kevin Niedermier reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/35910 Fri, 14 Jun 2013 15:41:24 -0400 Kevin Niedermier Crime and Courts Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson today provided an update into the investigation of a deadly police shooting last November.Jackson says some officers did not follow orders during the nearly half-hour pursuit that ended with the shooting deaths of Timothy Russell and Malissa Williams in East Cleveland.And he disagrees with Attorney General Mike DeWine that a "systemic failure" led to the shooting. WKSU's Kabir Bhatia reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/35904 Fri, 14 Jun 2013 12:18:03 -0400 Kabir Bhatia Crime and Courts GOP chairman meeting with black leaders in Cleveland Captain America wraps shooting Mayor Jackson says no 'systemic failure' in Nov. shooting http://www.wksu.org/news/story/35903 Fri, 14 Jun 2013 12:15:16 -0400 Ohio Confirmed: Storms spawned five tornados in western Ohio New Cleveland Convention Center opens today Former Ohio Supreme Court Justice opposes death penalty Final bridge bomb plotter found guilty Fitch gives Ohio Turnpike bonds 'strong' rating  Steubenville teens convicted of rape to be labeled sex offenders Imperial Ave. lot could become a memorial park to Sowell victims Medicaid bill provides few details on proposed reforms Healthcare workers for the poor must call-in West Shoreway to reopen on Saturday WKSU's Jeff St. Clair reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/35902 Fri, 14 Jun 2013 09:34:01 -0400 Jeff St. Clair About seven years ago, serious discussions started about replacing Cleveland's inadequate downtown convention center so the city could attract bigger conventions and visitors' money.This afternoon, the ribbon will be cut on the new $465 million complex. The new convention center helped spark a $2 billion building boom in downtown Cleveland. And as WKSU's Kevin Niedermier reports, making all these projects work together has been a priority from the beginning. WKSU's Kevin Niedermier reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/35890 Fri, 14 Jun 2013 00:00:00 -0400 Kevin Niedermier Economy and Business Small farms are making a big difference. Ohio’s landscape is dotted with family farms supplying as many as 260 farmers markets, a 150 percent increase in the last decade. Informed consumers increasingly hanker for pesticide and hormone-free, locally-grown produce, and beef and poultry that’s humanely raised. And many new small-scale farmers find satisfying that hunger can be satisfying work.  For today’s Quick Bite, WKSU’s Vivian Goodman takes us to Garrettsville for a tour of The Lucky Penny Farm. WKSU's Vivian Goodman reports. http://www.wksu.org/news/story/35823 Fri, 14 Jun 2013 00:00:00 -0400 Vivian Goodman Lifestyle