Author: Ruth Ravve

YOUNGSTOWN OHIO- President Obama chose this suffering rust belt community as an example for his speech on jobs and the economy, part of his “Main Street” tour of America.

The President wants to show how stimulus money is helping a dying community turn itself around, to “revitalize and redirect” their plans, “We encouraged the private sector…in order to get the economy moving” Obama says.

Youngstown leaders says they’ve been making drastic changes here, trying to pump life back into the economy, as the city grows from the ashes of what was once a thriving, steel manufacturing community. Now, one of every four people reportedly lives in poverty. The unemployment rate is at a staggering 14%, one of the highest in the country. This city that once had 170,000 residents, is now down to less than an estimated 73,000.

The 1930’s era buildings, with their crumbling art deco facades, stand like gravestones memorializing the abrupt departure of the steel manufacturing heyday that built this city, then went away, taking 50,000 jobs with it. Entire neighborhoods are being strategically downsized, as the families that once gave them life, have gone off in search of a better future.

But, there is good news in the Mahoning Valley, something that hasn’t been seen here in decades; jobs and growth.

The reason President Obama used the V& M Star Plant, a French piping manufacturer, as his backdrop for the Youngstown speech, is because its a steel manufacturing company benefitting from the recovery act. V&M is investing $650 million toward its’ expansion, doubling the size of its’ workforce, with most jobs going locally to those displaced when plants closed. The GM Lordstown plant, nearby, is also apparently adding a 3rd shift, which would mean another 1200 new jobs, The Democratic leadership in the Valley say its all the result of $52 million in stimulus money, but Republicans say its a victory for the private sector.

Youngstown’s leaders are now proudly boasting about the Youngstown Business Incubator, which nurtures start ups, particularly in software. The 300 plus employees of the Incubator have already had success with companies like Turning Technologies, which grossed $33 million last year. Two magazines, INC and Entrepreneur, even listed Youngstown Ohio as one of the top places to do business.

“It’s a couple drops in the bucket. We are just getting started at this… I don’t think it is beyond the realm of possibilities that two or 3 years form now you’re going to have 3 or 4 thousand people working in the software industry downtown Youngstown ohio” says Jim Cossler, who runs the Youngstown Business Incubator. Cossler says its all about planting the seeds that will grow into a new industry and improved economy.

An active downtown Youngstown is one proof of success so far. (When I complained about having trouble finding a parking spot, one businessman said to me “That’s a good sign! In the past, nobody came down here, so parking was too easy”).
“People are going to look back one day and say there was a miracle on the Mahoning Valley” says local Congressman Tim Ryan.

(Fox Correspondent Mike Tobin contributed to this report)

42 Year old Mike Michalak is changing careers. Michalak’s been an options trader for more than a decade, but he says he’s ready to find something else, maybe a position as “a financial analyst or in the banking environment”. But the last time Michalak’s had to go on a job interview, was 15 years ago, and he’s nervous about it…so he called in a coach to help him score the big job. Its what many job seekers are doing these days, to get an advantage, or just stay in game of today’s super competitive job market. “Having a great interview is so critical, and the only way to have a really great interview is to have someone who can coach you through that interview process. This is the only opportunity you’re going to have to make that first great impression and in order to do that, you have to be coached through the interview and prepared for that” says Vickie Lenchner of HR Staffing.

The tough economy and lack of job openings has lead to an increase in the number of interview coaches nationwide. Terry Kozlowski, of jobinterview911.com, holds seminars and gives mock interviews to prepare clients on how to best answer the tough questions that might come up during the interview process. “Interviewers will sometimes just pick a question out of the blue just to try to throw you, and just to see how you think under pressure, so you gotta be prepared for the predicatable questions and as much as you can, be prepared with your own stories and your own life experiences to handle the unpredictable questions that come your way” she says.

A fast talking, 23 year old, Joyce Yin turned to Kozlowski for help, while she looks for her first job in the non-profit sector. She’s a barely 5 foot tall, ball of energy, with a lot of enthusiasm, but says she had to learn from a coach how to calm down and keep her nerves in check when she’s being interviewed “I feel like my heart is beating so fast, its like in my throat and its about to come out because i’m so nervous, because I’m already an energetic person, so to have all that other energy just makes me kinda like fffzzzz” Yin says, as she demonstrates her emotions by shaking her hands in the air. Nervousness is normal, says Lenchner, you just have come to the table well prepared and ready to put your best foot forward. Kozlowski says one of the most important tips she gives to those preparing for that big interview: “Practice, practice, practice”.

CLICK HERE TO SEE MORE TIPS AND SUGGESTIONS FROM INTERVIEW COACHES LENCHNER AND KOZLOWSKI:

Its as American as apple pie, but if the average American family wants to enjoy it, they’re going to have to fork out the cost of an entire shopping cart’s worth of food for it. Baseball, our nation’s favorite pastime, is more expensive than ever. Ticket prices for major league games across the country have gone up. The average price for a ticket this season to a Chicago Cubs’ game is $52.56.

A company called Team Marketing Report surveyed ballparks around the country to get an idea of what it would take for the average family of four to get 2 adult tickets, 2 child tickets, 2 small beers, 4 small soft drinks, 4 hot dogs, parking, 2 programs and 2 caps. Its called the 2010 Fan Cost Index. The Boston Red Sox knock it out of the ballpark, with the highest price of $334.78. The Chicago Cubs come in second…not for their abilities on the field, but for price… at $329.74. Still, diehard fans say its worth the cost. “Its expensive, but if they’re winning, I’ll pay for it” says Cubs’ fan Mark Glisco, who came to Opening Day with his two sons. “This is what I spend my spare money on. As long as I can afford it, I’ll keep buying tickets” says Tarey Dane.
Tom Ricketts, whose family just bought the Cubs ballclub, says a lot of changes and improvements have been made to the park this year, and now “ambassadors” have been hired to improve the fan experience, by showing people to their seats and how to find the bathroom with the shortest line.

MARQUETTE MICHIGAN- Bart Stupak has put an end to his 18 year career as a pro-life, pro-gun Democratic congressman. Stupak chose snow covered Marquette Michigan to announce his retirement at the end of his term, saying he wanted to spend more time with family, and that “my main goal (national healthcare reform) was accomplished”. He called the efforts to campaign in one of the largest districts in the country “exhausting”. In a district that covers much of the upper peninsula of Michigan and part of the lower peninsula, its more than ten hours to drive from one end to the other.

At the start of the press conference, a teary eyed Laurie Stupak, Bart’s wife, spoke for a few minutes about his years of service, and the last few months, since he voted in support of the healthcare legislation. She says there were death threats via phone call and emails. In a word, she says it was “scary”. “We have gotten a number of very ugly phone calls and faxes into the congressional offices, into the campaign office, at home. I actually had to disconnect the telephone at home and our answering machine”. She practically sobbed as she introduced her husband of 36 years to the waiting media. An hour and a half away from the presser location, in Escanaba, Michigan, hundreds of members of the Tea Party gathered to celebrate and claim credit for what they called the downfall of the congressman.

Many people believe the backlash on Stupak’s vote for the healthcare bill is the reason for his retirement, but Stupak says he’s proud of his vote. And despite those who labeled him a “baby killer”, Stupak’s priest, Father Ron Skufca, told me he thinks that’s unfair and that he fully supports him. “I think the pro life people put a spin on everything that kind of, unless it specifically says this is not going to impact the money spent, they take offense to that…I think this amendment is very pro life. Its pro life not just for cute little babies but its pro life for people like you and I who need protection from the insurance giants”

As for Stupak…he says he’s not leaving right away, he still has 8 more months left in his term. His future plans? Stupak says “Maybe I’ll just sit on my deck, look at lake Michigan and watch the boats go by”

INDIANAPOLIS- A packed house at Lucas Oil Stadium, as the Butler Bulldogs battled the Duke Blue Devils for the NCAA basketball championship. Duke beat
Butler 61-59.
It was a nail biter all the way to the end, as the two teams stayed neck and neck throughout, neither one really seeming to dominate the other. The NCAA says around 72,000 fans and 1200 members of the media (not counting the hundreds of CBS production staff) were jammed into the arena, that’s normally used for a football stadium. It was a screaming sea of blue and white. Even if you aren’t a college basketball fan, its hard not to get caught up in the Cinderella story of “underdog” Butler surprising its’ critics and making it to the big game. Even Butler fans were amazed “This is like a dream come true. I never thought we’d make it here” said one B.U. senior. Despite the loss to Duke, many said they were still feeling proud to have gone this far.
Butler is the first team in 12 yrs to have 2 academic all-Americans playing in the championship game.
Maybe one reason Butler did so well this season; starting players rub the team mascot’s head for luck, before the start of every game. The mascot is a 6 year old English bulldog, named Butler Blue II. The Dog is a star in his own right, having been on several TV stations and newspaper photos during the season. But It looks like all the publicity seems have left little BB II a little tired and red eyed. (see pictures attached).

Its been called “the silent theft”, the crime nobody talks about, but that could soon change. The U.S. Labor Department says millions of low-wage earning employees in this country are being victimized by employers who make them work very long hours, in sometimes dangerous conditions, and don’t pay them what they’ve earned. Many of these employees don’t speak English well and don’t have many skills, so are vulnerable and desperate for work. The tough economy has increased the problem, especially for those at the bottom of the pay scale.
So Labor Secretary Hilda Solis is launching a new national program to protect workers, (including those here illegally), called “We Can Help”. Its designed for people in industries such as construction, janitorial, hotel/motel and food services. Jobs that are often filled by immigrants.
As part of the new campaign, Solis says 949 field investigators (that includes an additional 250 hired) will be out nationwide to investigate claims against employers. When asked how much all this will cost, Solis didn’t give a number, instead she just said “we’re back to 2001 levels” in terms of the budget. “We (the Department of Labor) were previously criticized under the past administration for a lack of attention in this area” but now “There’s a new sheriff in town” Solis says.

Click here for an explanation of the new program by Labor Secretary Hilda Solis:

CHICAGO- As opponents of the new healthcare law work to repeal it, supporters, likes Illinois Senator Dick Durbin, say they’re ready for battle. “Bring it on, I want that debate!” said the majority whip. Many Republicans say overturning and reworking the healthcare legislation will be the central focus of the 2010 campaign.
Durbin was asked about the prospects of those trying to overturn the legislation at a press conference today. Durbin also talked about wanting to help consumers and strengthen the Consumer Protection Agency, that the “too big to fail” concept has to end. The senator said there’ll be more government oversight, that lenders, including credit card companies, will be told “If you want to be protected like a bank, then you’re gonna be regulated like a bank”.

Click here to see the Senator’s comments on the effort to repeal healthcare legislation:

She’s Jewish, he’s Catholic. Joseph and Rebecca Reyes both said their differing religions didn’t matter when they got married, but when they had a child, Rebecca says they both agreed to raise the girl Jewish (Joseph converted but says he only did it to please Rebecca’s parents). Now they’re getting divorced, and 3 year old Ela is at the center of a bitter custody battle…one that could land Joseph in jail. You can see more details in Fox news correspondent Lauren Green’s article here: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2010/03/26/split-baby-interfaith-couple-struggles-divorce/?test=latestnews

At closing arguments in their divorce case, Rebecca Reyes’ attorney Steven Lake told the judge “This case is not about religion, its about custody. Rebecca is not seeking to prevent Joseph from practicing any religion. The two parents fostered the daughter’s belief in Judaism (took her to temple and sent her to a Jewish school), so now it would be confusing to suddenly tell her something different. Religion was never an issue in this case until custody battle came up”.
Joseph’s attorney, Joel Brodsky, (the same attorney defending Drew Peterson) tried to explain why his client violated an earlier court order, and took their daughter to mass and to get baptized. It might have gone unnoticed, except Reyes invited a tv crew along and took pictures he later sent to his ex-wife.
“Rebecca is delusional about religion, absolutely delusional. She says it was a Jewish wedding but she has a Catholic husband….she doesn’t keep kosher she eats pork…in her so called Jewish home. …she has a Jewish identity in Rebecca-land but not in the real world”, attorney Brodsky said. In response to claims that Joseph didn’t contribute financially to the marriage, Brodsky said “Behind every successful man is a good woman. I guess we can say, behind every failed man is a bad wife”.

With the Easter holiday around the corner, Joseph wants to take daughter Ela to church, which would again be a violation of the court injunction. The judge could decide to dismiss the injunction, but the judge says that likely won’t happen before April 4th (Easter Sunday).
Click here to see comments attorneys made to the press (first seen is attorney Joel Brodsky with Joseph Reyes, next is attorney Steven Lake):

The Chicago office for the community activist group, known as ACORN, seems to have disappeared. In its place; a company called “Affordable Housing Centers of America”, located in the same office, with apparently many of the same employees, according to a woman sitting behind a desk there. The new name might be part of an overall rebranding of the embattled organization, which says it is disbanding.

You can read more details here, in Fox correspondent Eric Shawn’s report: http://liveshots.blogs.foxnews.com/2010/03/23/acorn-swap/

The Chicago office seems to have, at one time, been the headquarters for ACORN Housing Inc., according to Matthew Vadum, of the Capital Research Center. A company brochure says AHCOA is “a HUD approved housing counseling agency” with “access to 43 mortgage servicers”.

Click here to see video of the Chicago new/former office:

A victory was won by those in support of the current healthcare legislation, as it was approved by the House of Representatives and sent to President Obama for a signature.  The battle over the bill has gotten many people talking; some happy and supporting it, others concerned about what’s involved and how we’ll pay for it.

So we stopped people making their way down the street in Barack Obama’s hometown, Chicago, early this morning, to ask for their thoughts.  This is, of course, not a scientific survey.  These are just the thoughts of people who were willing to stop for a few moments and comment in front of our camera.

“At this point, its all up to mother nature”.  That’s the bottom line comment from one Des Moines, Iowa official, as city leaders wait to see just how bad the flooding will get.   The river has already crested here, but local weathermen are predicting 100% precipitation Friday night, with more rain through the weekend.  All that water, added to the large amount of melted snow already filling up reservoirs, could send a lot more water surging into local rivers, and spilling over into the city.  Right now, the main road from the Des Moines, Iowa airport leading toward the city, is shut down, as water covers what is typically a park with biking and running paths.  People in this midwest city are on edge, after seeing the damage caused by major flooding, in 2008.  The Army Corp of Engineers statewide is on alert.  Levees have been built, so now its just a matter of seeing if they’re strong enough.  One factor that could help the situation; temperatures are dropping quickly in Iowa, which would slow the melting snow and reduce flood concerns.  The picture above shows correspondent Peter Doocy and photographer Glenn “Dutch” Wargo covering flooding from the Des Moines river.

Click here to see video of the fast moving Des Moines river, as it flows over what is supposed to be a park:

(Lehigh IA)-This small midwest town is a riverfront community, but looks more like its in the middle of a lake these days, thanks to rising flood waters.  Lehigh Iowa, population 500, just north of Des Moines, got deluged when the nearby Des Moines river overflowed its banks.  Its the third major flood in the area over the last 15 years, so people here seem to take it in stride.   “I’ve always wanted a lakefront home, and now I have one.  I wonder if my property value just went up” joked one resident.  More rain and possibly snow are expected this weekend.

Fox news correspondent Peter Doocy and photographer Glenn “Dutch” Wargo, jumped in a boat and rode out to one of the homes to talk to the owners (pictures are attached).

Urban Prep Academy, a high school that sits among dilapidated buildings in Chicago’s Englewood neighborhood, is sending every student in its graduating class to college.

For a typical kid growing up in the projects of inner-city Chicago, dealing with gangs and drugs and violence, the idea of graduating high school, going to college and planning a career is unusual, says 18-year-old Deontae Moore.

He just found out he got accepted to Northwestern University, something he never dreamed could happen when he was a kid in a rough neighborhood on the city’s Southside.

“People I grew up with, they have babies already.  They’re not in high school because they dropped out,” Moore says.

He says his mother refused to let him become one of the statistics.  Moore is one of over 100 teens graduating from Urban Prep Academy, one of the windy city’s newest charter schools. The publically-funded charter school mainly caters to African American males.

One of the reasons the school is popular among parents is its focus on steering students toward higher education.

Senior Rayvaughn Hines, who got accepted to Morehouse College, says once he starts earning money, he wants to give back to the community.

“I will try to build a nice youth center to keep the kids off the streets,” he says.

Click here to see students at Urban Prep lined up for their morning message. (The gold ties were given to the students who did exceptionally well in their studies at the academy)

What did the founding fathers really mean when they talked about the separation of church and state?  That’s the question sparking heated debate in Austin Texas, as the state Board of Education battles over what students should be taught about U.S. history, politics and government, and what should go into Texas textbooks.  The board is battling its way through a stack of amendments proposed by its’ 15 members.  Democratic board member Mavis B. Knight introduced an amendment regarding the separation of church and state, which was “intended to inform students that there is a political and legal doctrine out there that addresses the issue”, she said.   Mavis wanted the information taught in the classroom “because I’m afraid the students won’t otherwise know about it”.

Board members bandied it about for awhile.  Conservative board members pointed out that the separation of church and state is not written into the U.S. Constitution, so it’s important to figure out “the actual words of the founding fathers… what did they really want and what did they say?” said Republican board member Ken Mercer.  “I think their point was that they did not want a separation from religion, they just wanted to avoid having a national denomination…one religion everyone would have to follow.  I think they had a different understanding of religious freedom.”

The amendment was voted down by the board committee, but could be brought back up in discussion again.  Once the committee gets through all the proposed amendments, they will then be posted for public comment.  The full board of education is expected to make a final vote in May.

(Austin Texas)-College students are taking sides in the battle over Texas textbooks.  Dozens of students from the University of Texas marched to the William B. Travis building, where the state board of education is meeting and taking public comment on proposed changes to textbook and curriculum standards.  While these students wouldn’t be using any of the textbooks in question, they say they want to help raise public awareness of the issue.  “I’m a product of the Texas public school system so I feel like its my civic duty to get involved” says student protestor Melessa Rodriguez. “We’re concerned that the far right members on the state board are trying to force their personal and political agendas on the children of Texas” says Garrett Mize of the group Students for a Smarter State Board of Education.  Jonathan Saenz, of the Liberty Institute, says politics does not play a part in this. “The Board of Education is making common sense decision.  These are Texas values, these are American values.  It doesn’t matter what party you’re a part of” he says.

The Texas Board of Education, which is made up of ten Republicans and five Democrats, is expected to make its final decision in May.  Click here to see video of the student protest:

They’re in the classroom everyday, working closely with students, yet teachers say their opinions are not being heard as school board leaders in Texas debate what should be written in the textbooks.   “They should have a say in this, but they’re being ignored….They have become disillusioned” says Texas AFT president Linda Bridges.  Often times, Bridges says, the material taught in the textbooks doesn’t match what’s on state tests students are given, so there’s a disconnect.   AFT members are expected to voice their concerns at the school board hearings in the Lone Star state on Wednesday.

Meantime, as teachers, educational leaders and politicians across the country watch the battle heat up, surprisingly some of those most affected by the outcome had no idea the Board of Education hearings were even taking place.  At Pease elementary school in Austin, just a few blocks away from where the hearings are taking place, many parents told us they weren’t aware there was any talk of changes made to the standards in the textbooks their children would receive in school.  One father said “I’m not worried about it.  The school board knows what its doing and I’ll support whatever decisions they make”.

Among those few parents who say they have been following the issues, the main concern was that those with certain political agendas would have the last word in the Texas textbook debate.  Click here so see comments from parents.

He’s one of the best known religious leaders in the nation, President Obama’s former pastor, the Reverend Jeremiah Wright.  His sometimes controversial, fiery sermons have lasted for hours at times… but when Wright was paired up with Nation of Islam’s Louis Farrakhan and Catholic priest, Father Michael Pfleger, there wasn’t much said.  In fact, the three sat quietly together, in the audience at Chicago’s historic Regal Theatre, as honorees for a fundraiser called “Living Legends, Educating 365”.

Several hundred people paid between $40-$100 for tickets to the show, and entered through doors with entrances separated for males and females.  As is typical for public events involving Farrakhan, members of the public were padded down by security and “wanded” for metals as they came through the door.   Inside, Wright sold and signed copies of his latest book, “A Sankofa Moment.  The History of Trinity United Church of Christ”, for $25.   Wright’s daughter Jeri hosted the program, which included musical acts and comedy.  Proceeds go to charities lead by the 3 honorees.

Among the 20 or so people braving the cold as they lined up outside a Chicago unemployment office, there was some sense of relief. Now that the blockade against extending jobless benefits is over, they’ll be able to continue getting their checks.  “I can keep paying my bills, that means something” said a shivering Tom Dober, as he waited for the doors to the office to open.   There was fear among many that benefits would be cut off, as a battle among lawmakers was waged in Washington DC. Kentucky Senator Jim Bunning staged a filibuster, to block a bill extending jobless benefits and health insurance subsidies for unemployed Americans.  Several in line called the whole political battle “ridiculous”, and accused Washington lawmakers of not knowing how the “little people” felt.  While Dober admitted he was concerned about not getting his government cash,  he said he supported Bunning, “I think he’s right.  If there’s no money to pay it (unemployment benefits), they should figure something else out”.

Bunning gave in late Tuesday night, ended his filibuster, and the jobless benefits extensions bill passed 78-19.  Click here to see comments  about the congressional battle from Greg Mills, a Chicago writer who says he depends on unemployment checks during the lean times:

At a time when many people are leaving Michigan to find work, it might come as a surprise that nearly 500 people are making their way toward the Great Lakes State in order to get a job.  People like Tommy McCall, who was born and raised in Columbia, Tennessee. “I ain’t been out of it too many times” he says.  But when General Motors stopped production at the Saturn plant in Spring Hill, Tennessee, McCall was out of a job, and needed to support his wife and three kids, so it was time to move.  “I was like, well I can go up there and go to work.  I don’t know if I can find work down here”.

As part of its post-bankruptcy consolidation plans, General Motors decided to move production of the Chevy Traverse to the Lansing plant, where it makes its’ other crossover vehicles.  A third shift was then needed at the plant, which meant a thousand more people.  While none will be new hires, first dibs for those jobs went to UAW members who lost them in Tennessee, like McCall.  While they’re glad to have the jobs, moving to Michigan in the middle of winter was a bit of a shock for the former southerners.  “I’ve never seen so much snow in my life!” says McCall.

The addition of the third shift is a good sign, according to General Motors president Mark Reuss.  “The plan we had in place in the December time frame was a conservative plan based on where we thought the industry was going to be.  We’re seeing a little bit of recovery in the industry right now but more importantly we’re seeing unpredicted demand in popularity for our vehicles, which is a really good sign”.   Automobile Magazine editor Jean Jennings says GM seems to be doing it right this time. “It means there’s a little sign of an uptick or at least it means GM is working in a rational fashion, which means not overproducing cars, producing the right amount of cars to sell and not have them sitting around”.

In addition to the Chevy Traverse, Reuss says, the GMC Acadia and the Buick Enclave are selling like hot cakes.   That could also be good news for taxpayers.  Reuss says the company is ahead of schedule in paying back bailout money.   “Coming out of bankruptcy here as a company and as we start the new year in 2010, our capacity is now in line with our demand.  So when we see demand rise, as we have in the September and January time frame, we’re addressing this in a very responsible way”.

Mark Reuss’ positive outlook may be correct.  According to data from IHS Global Insight, GM is projected to sell nearly two and a quarter million cars in the U.S. this year, more than all the other major automakers.

Total 2010 projected U.S. Sales:    11.8 million

GM                            2.23 million

Ford                          1.95 million

Chrysler                    988,000

Toyota                      1.86 million

Honda                      1.33 million

–The rest of the total sales number would be made up by the smaller carmakers combined

Click here to see comments from GM President Mark Reuss:

The stress of facing federal charges might be taking a toll on the relationship between brothers Rod and Robert Blagojevich.   “Its not what it was, its a little strained” says Robert, the elder brother of the embattled former Illinois Governor.   Robert Blagojevich plead not guilty today in federal court, on charges connected to the alleged attempted sale of the Illinois Senate seat, once held by Barack Obama.   He faces charges of attempted extortion, conspiracy to commit extortion and conspiracy to commit bribery.  “I’m an innocent man, I’ve done nothing wrong and I look forward to getting my name back” he said.  Robert, who lives with his family in Nashville Tennessee, says all the costs involved with defending himself, and flying back and forth to Chicago, have been draining.

Both men’s cases are expected to go to trial this summer.  Their attorneys agree on one major factor: to allow the government to play secret FBI recordings of them, in court.

Click here to see Robert Blagojevich’s brief comments to the media after his arraignment.