Emmy Award-winning Feagler & Friends is a lively, weekly half-hour television discussion of local and national issues impacting lives in Northeast Ohio. Hosted by award-winning journalist and former Plain Dealer columnist, Dick Feagler, Feagler & Friends explores the various issues behind today's news. With a changing ensemble of "friends" ranging from journalists to community and political leaders, Feagler & Friends takes on issues from many different perspectives. Always entertaining and never boring, Feagler & Friends is the program for people "in the know" in Northeast Ohio.

Friday, October 10, 2008

Topics: Economy, Politics, Other
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Newsmaker: George Zeller, economic research analyst. Zeller says the state of Ohio has lost more than 223-thousand jobs since 2000 and the state’s aggregate payroll has dropped by close to $10-billion. The job loss figure is even worse when viewed from a manufacturing perspective. Losses in the manufacturing sector since 2001 were 234-thousand. Job losses were not evenly distributed. While Cuyahoga, Lake and Lorain counties suffered declines, employment increased in Geauga, Medina, Summit and Portage counties. The picture is not expected to improve very soon. All the figures were compiled prior to the recent market meltdown.

Roundtable: Elizabeth Sullivan, foreign affairs writer, The Plain Dealer; Greg Saber, reporter, WTAM 1100; Mary Jane Skala, senior editor, Sun News.

Sun Sets on Solon Project: Developer Peter Rubin has pulled the plug on a large commercial and residential project in Solon. The 90-acre, half-billion dollar project mirrored the Crocker Park development in Westlake and would have required a re-zoning vote by Solon residents, scheduled for November 4th. Rubin said the current financial climate doomed the project.

National City for Sale: The Wall Street Journal reports Cleveland’s National City Corp. is up for sale. National City is one of many banks in trouble because it holds a large portfolio of risky mortgages. National City employs eight thousand people in northeast Ohio, so its future is of intense interest. Analysts say sale to a foreign bank would be the most job-friendly outcome because a foreign company would need a U.S. base.

Police Shooter Trial: A jury has found Lamidi Kafaru, 19, guilty in the fatal shooting last February of Cleveland police officer Derek Owens. Jurors needed three full days of deliberations to reach its verdict. Police found the murder weapon in the defendant's home, but he claims to have bought the gun from an acquaintance. Jurors decide next if Kafaru should get the death penalty.

Debate II: Presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama met this week for the second of their three debates. This debate, in Nashville, Tennessee, was held in a town hall format with the audience asking the questions. The third debate, to focus on domestic and economic policy, is scheduled for Wednesday at Hofstra University in Hempstead, NY.

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