Tracking the Great Recession, Region by Region

Making News

Administration Unveils Foreclosure Prevention Program ()

The Obama Administration announced details of a massive foreclosure prevention program today. It could help 9 million homeowners lower their payments, and it takes effect immediately, as we hear from Kevin Hall, national economics correspondent for the McClatchy Newspapers.

Guests:

• Kevin Hall: National Economics Correspondent, McClatchy Newspapers, @KevinGHall

Main Topic

Tracking the Great Recession, Region by Region ()

In Detroit, the median price of a home is now estimated at $7500, less than the lowest priced new car on the market. In Lehigh Acres, once a middle-class suburb of Miami, one out of every four people is now on food stamps. What's now being called the Great Recession comes hard on the heels of a massive boom in construction. Construction workers, mostly men without college degrees, are among those most likely to find themselves unemployed. Just as different sectors of the economy are hit to different degrees, so are different regions of the country. Wall Street's been hit hard by unemployment, but New York City is strong and diverse enough to rebuild. Other parts of the country may not be so lucky. We examine the impact of the recession in different regions and their different prospects for economic recovery.

Guests:

• Mark McMullen: Senior Economist, MoodysEconomy.com
• Robin Boyle: Professor of Urban Economic Development, Wayne State University
• Damien Cave: Miami Bureau Chief, New York Times, @damiencave
• Bill Bishop: Editor, Daily Yonder
• Bill Virgin: Business Columnist, Seattle Post-Intelligencer

Links:

• Cave's article on Lehigh Acres, Florida
• Bishop's article on troubled rural economy
• Bishop's book, 'The Big Sort: Why the Clustering of Like-Minded America is Tearing Us Apart'
• Post Intelligencer's 'layoff tracker'

Reporter's Notebook

Warrant Issued for Arrest of Sudan's President ()

The President of Sudan has been indicted for war crimes and crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Court. It's the first such action ever against a sitting head of state. Omar al-Bashir is not accused of genocide. The ICC says there's not enough evidence. He is charged with ordering murder, extermination, rape, torture and the forcible transfer of civilians suspected of supporting rebel factions in the western province of Darfur. Scott Baldouf covers Africa for the Christian Science Monitor.

Guests:

• Scott Baldauf: Africa Bureau Chief for the Christian Science Monitor