Archive
Broadcast
About
A SERVICE OF OHIO'S PUBLIC BROADCASTING STATIONS
A SERVICE OF OHIO'S PUBLIC BROADCASTING STATIONS
Program Directory
Regina Brett, metro columnist, The Plain Dealer; Mike Roberts, freelance journalist; Elizabeth Sullivan, editorial writer, The Plain Dealer.
Continental Cutbacks:
The airline will ground part of its Cleveland hub operation to stave off losses brought on by high fuel costs. Continental announced Thursday it will eliminate 13 per cent of the seats served by Cleveland and it will cut nonstop service to 24 airports including San Diego and Cincinnati. The airline did not announce layoffs saying it expected staff cuts to occur through normal attrition.
Where's Council?
A Plain Dealer investigation this week questions the attendance records of Cleveland City Council members. The paper reported the 21 council members missed an average of 13 per cent of the meetings they were supposed to attend. And in some cases, members would put in cameo appearances at meetings, then leave. Seven members, including president Martin Sweeney, attended at least 95 per cent of meetings.
New Vote Counting Machinery:
The Cuyahoga County Board of Elections will apparently be forced to spend millions of dollars to acquire new vote counting devices in time for the fall election. The county now counts all the votes at the agency's downtown Cleveland headquarters, but a new state law requires the counting be done at individual precincts. County leaders asked lawmakers to allow the machines to be used in November, but they failed to act.
Lethal Injection:
A Lorain County judge ruled this week the state can continue to administer the death penalty by lethal injection as long as only one specific chemical is used. Previous lethal injections have involved a three-drug combination critics say could cause pain. The state and prosecutors haven't yet taken a position on a possible appeal. Earlier this spring, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld lethal injection by current methods.
The Inheritance:
In her late 20s, Gabrielle Brett faced a difficult decision. Her mother was a breast cancer survivor; many family members had been stricken by or died of breast cancer; and she knew she was carrying the gene that made breast cancer a strong likelihood. She could have waited to see if cancer developed, or she could undergo a radical mastectomy even though she was in perfect health. She chose the latter. The story was told in a series of Plain Dealer articles this week by Gabrielle's mother, Regina Brett. Both women will join the show to discuss the story with Mr. Feagler.
June 13, 2008