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, April 13, 2007

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Newsmaker: Harriet Applegate, Executive Secretary, North Shore Federation of Labor. Cleveland labor leaders have for the first time elected a woman as their standard-bearer. Applegate replaces long time Cleveland AFL-CIO leader John Ryan, who is joining the staff of Senator Sherrod Brown. She will have to stand for re-election next year. Union influenced is in decline nationwide, but still strong in Cleveland where labor support can turn an election.

Roundtable: Greg Saber, reporter, WTAM 1100; Chris Sheridan, editorial writer, The Plain Dealer.

Tax Abatements on the Bubble: Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson is asking City Council to consider modifying a program of tax abatements that are said to be an important development tool. The Mayor wants to reduce the duration of abatements from 15 to seven years. Developers recently warned the city that changes in the abatement program would stymie their building plans. A study finished earlier this year indicated abatements work.

Merit Pay for Teachers: A national study suggests public school teachers should get raises that stem from the performance of their students. The study says teachers would earn increases if students achieve more, and if they teach in areas where student performance has lagged. Right now, Ohio teacher pay raises are driven by seniority and additional education.

Crazy Weather: The Cleveland Indians had to travel to Milwaukee this week to play their home games. Efforts to get the home season underway with the Seattle Mariners were snowed out with four games lost to a freak blast of wintry weather. Major League Baseball decided to move the series with the Los Angeles Angels to Miller Park in Milwaukee. It also snowed there this week, but Miller Park has a roof.

Imus Fired: Syndicated radio personality Don Imus, a former Clevelander, touched off a media firestorm this week with disparaging remarks about the Rutgers University women’s basketball team. Imus drew fire from critics as varied as the Rutgers coach to Presidential candidates. On Thursday, CBS fired Imus after Key sponsors withdrew and MSNBC halted its simulcast of Imus’s morning show. Critics of the firing call it an overreaction.

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