Akron Beacon Journal
DRONE DELIVERY OF MEDS BEGINS
The Cleveland Clinic is officially flying into the future with its new drone delivery program — and it may end up in Akron someday as the service expands. The hospital system began making these prescription deliveries from its Beachwood campus using...
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Center offers holistic approach to health
Four local wellness professionals are taking a collaborative approach to health, bringing mental, physical and emotional wellness together in one Fairlawn space. For the women behind Regenerative SelfCare & Wellness, wellness starts with looking at...
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WHAT’S NEW?
The new school year often brings a flurry of new changes. And this school year is no exception. h School districts across Summit County have rolled out new policies, upgraded facilities, changed leaders and athletic conferences this school year. h The...
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Questions surround death after 50 years
Cyndi Terrill got a phone call that forever changed her life on the morning of Aug. 23, 1976. h The co-workers of her sister, Pam, wanted to know where Pam was. Pam had the keys to open the shop where they worked. h Cyndi went to Pam’s bedroom in the...
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Fans line up to honor Dolly permanently
Dolly Parton certainly made a lasting impression on a fair number of fans in Greater Akron. And now the late singer will be forever memorialized by some of them. A steady stream of fans made their way to Magic City Tattoo and Body Piercing in...
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APS fights absences with in-school care
When a child isn’t coming to school regularly, Akron Public Schools staff does not assume it’s just because they don’t want to be there. Instead, over the years, the district has worked to address the real-life barriers that often prevent kids from...
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Parents, experts on how to monitor screen time
OThird of a three-part series. ne Akron parent gives her kids two-hour blocks of screen time at home — one when they finish their homework and one before bed. Another limits her kids’ time on technology to three hours per day while they’re at home. And...
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Teachers get creative to help students focus
Second of a three-part series. When Roxanne Crook notices her students beginning to chat among themselves, tap their pencils or lean back in their chairs, she knows it’s time to refocus their attention. The first grade teacher at Akron’s Crouse...
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10th Akron Pride Festival draws impressive crowd
The Akron Pride Festival kicked off its 10th anniversary in grand style Aug. 22 with its annual Equity March that stretched from the former Spaghetti Warehouse parking lot up Main Street to Cascade Plaza downtown. Leading the march with colorful pride...
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On Tuesday
Teachers share strategies for keeping students engaged. Read the entire series at BeaconJournal.com.
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Iran vows ‘devastating’ response to threat
DUBAI – Iran said on Aug. 21 that its response to any new U.S. threats would be “devastating” after Washington pledged to impose the toughest financial penalties in history with the aim of toppling the Iranian leadership. Washington prepared for...
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Area photographer gives gift to healing parents
Morgan and John Merkel endured three miscarriages, fertility medications and three rounds of fertility treatment before they had their baby, Clarke, in 2019. Once Clarke was born after a high-risk pregnancy and rough delivery, the Cuyahoga Falls...
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Tyrone Noling gets rare clemency hearing
Butch Wolcott was only 14 when he and three of his buddies were accused of killing an elderly Portage County couple. Wolcott, who was promised immunity, testified during Tyrone Noling’s trial in 1996 that Noling was the ringleader and shot and killed...
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UA Buchtel Commons seeks to be oasis of calm
University of Akron President R.J. Nemer envisions the in-progress, new version of the Buchtel Commons thoroughfare as a place where students can congregate — and find calm and serenity. h With the middle portion of the $8 million reconstruction of...
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Ohio voters divided on Miller’s candidacy
David Hoecke paused under a canopy of trees on a steamy August Saturday in front of Medina’s gazebo. The 88-year-old Republican and his wife live in Berea but hand out the Gideon New Testament Bibles at the Medina Square Farmers Market every week...
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PorchRokr fest turns porches into stages
It was a smorgasbord for the ears. Some 161 bands or solo acts took to the porches in Akron’s Highland Square neighborhood on Saturday, Aug. 15, for the annual PorchRokr. There were 40 some venues along the residential streets ranging from lone...
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WHAT CAN BE DONE?
They didn’t even have time to scream. h One minute, the energetic young Akron boy was crossing the street. h The next, Kingston Solomon was struck by a speeding car that bystanders didn’t see coming. h Jasmine Riley, Kingston’s mother who had been...
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Hudson teen talks her Patriot Games trip
Shannon Dressler is used to competing in silence. When she’s swimming, no matter how many people are watching her, she dives into the pool, and the world condenses to just her and the water. But from Aug. 9 to Aug. 11, Dressler, a 16-year-old rising...
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Poindexter running on a platform of helping the working class
Brian Poindexter’s campaign for the 7th Congressional District began in his friend’s garage in January when he and his buddy hand made a podium. h Tom Dufour, Poindexter’s friend and a fellow Brook Park councilman, shared the news of Poindexter’s...
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Event listings aim for ‘signal in the noise’
Akron and other communities in Summit County aren’t lacking in events, but there’s a need to connect the right people with the right listings, say two friends who are fine-tuning a solution to address the knowledge gap. Mac Love, artist, cofounder and...
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School districts tighten rules for nonresidents
Sixteen-year-old Mashiya Martin lives in Akron, but she’s been attending Stow-Munroe Falls City Schools since second grade. Under the district’s new open enrollment policy, her family now must pay $2,000 for her to attend Stow-Munroe Falls High School...
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‘Mr. Derby’ reenacts momentous 1966 ride
Six decades after he first raced at Derby Downs in Akron, 74-year-old Jeff “Mr. Derby” Iula returned to the hill in the same jacket and helmet to relive that moment with another ride down Lane 1. The International Soap Box Derby historian, Hall of...
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Time Traveler moves to Merriman Valley
There’s a reason why Scott Shepard named his record shop Time Traveler. It’s the feeling that people get when an old song plays. “When you listen to music, especially from your past and you haven’t heard it for a while, it’s like time traveling back to...
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HEARING THE CALL OF THE SIRENS
Amythological creature is finding a home off the shores of Lake Erie in Cleveland. h The Cleveland Sirens is the name for the WNBA expansion team that will debut in 2028. Rock Entertainment Group, which owns the team, announced the name Aug. 4 at...
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Miller to stay in race, denies abuse claims
U.S. Rep. Max Miller says he’ll continue his reelection bid, despite mounting scrutiny involving allegations of domestic abuse involving his ex-wife. h Miller’s former fatherin-law, U.S. Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, called Miller “dangerous” and posted...
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‘Stop ICE Flights’
Two flights likely filled with immigrants being deported lifted off from Akron-Canton Airport Saturday morning even as about 200 protesters stood outside the airport entrance calling for an end to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). h The...
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1,500
Hours required for a cosmetology license in Ohio over food containers and discarded hair extensions of every color and texture. He nodded as Kamari told him about the bangs. He searched the cluttered counter for gloves, a comb and a spray bottle. He...
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UA sets the stage for renovations
Starting next summer, the home of the Akron Symphony Orchestra is getting some much-needed repairs. h The part of E.J. Thomas Hall’s stage that extends to accommodate the orchestra needs to be replaced, a roughly $1.5 million to $2 million undertaking,...
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Kent State class helps Gen Z navigate conflict, communication
Is social media making Gen Z less social? It’s a question that’s led one Kent State University lecturer to change the way he teaches and prompted at least some area Gen Zs to reduce their social media usage. Aaron Maguire, a senior lecturer at Kent...
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Akron may set record for water main breaks
With five months left before year’s end, Akron is on track to experience a record number of water main breaks this year. h “This is not a good thing to be proud of, but it looks like on the pace we are going that we may hit 500 water main breaks this...
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PLACES TO EAT? THINGS TO DO? STUFF TO SEE?
Dining Guide • Events Calendar • Downtown Guides
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Quarry in Peninsula set to be preserved
A Summit County landmark is now part of the Metro Parks. The county park system has acquired the former Quarry swimming hole and a portion of the Heritage tree farm in Peninsula. And now officials are studying what to do with the 85 acres just south...
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‘This is a lifestyle, not a job ... I live and breathe it’
The name tag on Zach Hillman’s Army green uniform weighs less than an ounce but nearly a ton. “Hmmm, ‘Hillman’” some mumble aloud as they read it. Inevitably, they follow with, “Are you related to Phil Hillman?” “Yes sir, that was my dad,” he...
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Bigger staff will allow proactive inspections
There are too few housing inspectors in Akron for the department to work proactively, but some coming changes could shift the agency from just responding to complaints. Akron Mayor Shammas Malik’s administration worked with City Council to fund four...
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No Cavaliers homecoming for LeBron, who instead joins 76ers
Akron native LeBron James will add a fourth team to his legendary NBA resume. h James agreed on Friday, July 24, to sign with the Philadelphia 76ers, his agency Klutch Sports Group confirmed on social media. James will join the Sixers on a two-year, $8...
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Firefighters test their mettle at challenge
Downtown Akron is bustling with firefighter athletes from all over the country for the Northeast Regional Firefighter Challenge Classic. h The morning of July 23, the challenge began for individual participants on South Main Street. When it was their...
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Local products land at Akron-Canton Airport
What’s happening at the Akron-Canton Airport is taking farm-to-table to a whole new level. h The airport in Green is the first in Ohio to partner with local small businesses and farmers to bring goods directly to travelers passing through. h With a bit...
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Leukemia survivor advocates on Capitol Hill
Since he completed treatment for leukemia in March, 12-year-old Levi Buxman is learning how to be a kid again — and advocating on Capitol Hill while he’s at it. h After being diagnosed with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia in November 2023, Levi...
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LOST PURPLE HEART FINDS WAY TO SIBLINGS
It was a bittersweet reunion. The family of Curtis Patton always wondered what happened to his medals from Vietnam, but so many years had passed since his death on the battlefield that they simply moved on. Patton was killed in Vietnam along with 21...
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SOAP BOX DERBY A GLOBAL AFFAIR
The 88th FirstEnergy All-American Soap Box Derby championship drew national and international racers to Akron Saturday, July 18. The Canadian wildfire smoke that blanketed the Akron area caused all July 17 derby events to be canceled. Alignment and...
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DID WRITE THAT SERMON?
“AI doesn’t really have a name. You can’t see it. It’s faceless. It’s God,” Rabbi Rachel Brown joked to her husband, Rabbi Michael Ross. h Rachel Brown leads Beth Israel – The West Temple in Cleveland and is the president of the Greater Cleveland Board...
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Cyclospora cases linked to Mexican lettuce supply
If you’re a regular at Taco Bell, beware of its shredded iceberg lettuce from Mexico. The Food and Drug Administration released an advisory July 16 telling consumers to avoid eating the lettuce at Taco Bell locations in Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky,...
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Officials warn of risks from wildfire smoke, offer tips to reduce exposure
As the Greater Akron area experiences hazy smoke due to Canadian wildfires, the American Heart Association warns that the smoke exposure could post an increased risk for heart disease. Wildfire smoke contains pollutants, including microscopic...
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Child life specialist helps kids cope during divorces
By Summit County’s Domestic Relations Court Judge Katarina Cook’s estimation, her court could be the first civil court in Ohio to hire a child life specialist as part of its Children and Parents Empowered program, dubbed CAPE. h Child life specialists...
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Central-Hower to become business, creative hub
Less than a mile from where the historic Lincoln Building recently met its end, another structure awaits a second chance at life. h Kyle Craven and the Hower Property Group LTD are poised to buy CentralHower and transform the 237,000-square-foot,...
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Possible ties probed in 3 women’s slayings
Donna Pittinger’s sisters expected that one day they might get a call telling them she was dead. h For many years, she struggled with a crack cocaine addiction, made repeated trips to rehab and lost custody of her three children. h Cathy Doerman and...
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Estate sale hunters always on the lookout for bargains
Estate sales have been around since ancient times when they were held to settle property owners’ debts. Tag and estate sales are as popular as ever today, a favorite for collectors and others looking for bargains or quality items. They also have...
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The search continues
A fisherman saw a human hand floating just beneath the cloudy surface of the Ohio & Erie Canal in August 2005. He wondered if it was a mannequin and someone was playing a joke. The Akron Fire Department’s dive team, though, soon discovered it was all...
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Internet expansion creates ‘nightmare’
Many of us may not think much about the tangles of pipes and conduits carrying water, electricity and other modern necessities beneath the ground we live and play on. h But a recent boom in businesses bringing high-speed internet cables across the...
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Crashes in Hudson, Stow linked to pursuits
A police pursuit of an attempted murder suspect that began in Hudson on July 7 ended in a dramatic crash involving a flipped Summit Metro Parks police cruiser and a foot chase through a Stow neighborhood. Julius Edwards, 39, was wanted in connection...
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City moves to revoke bar’s liquor license
The city of Akron is formally lodging its objection to the Highland Tavern’s liquor license renewal, which is up for consideration in October. City officials say the bar has contributed to a pattern of violence in Highland Square in recent months....
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4 killed, including officer, in shooting in Rittman
RITTMAN — Four people, including a veteran Rittman police officer, were killed and other law enforcement officers were injured in a domestic-related shooting the night of July 5, authorities said. Law enforcement officers responded at about 9:30 p.m....
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Stow gets in the red, white and blue spirit
“Celebrate America! Celebrate Community” was the theme Saturday as around 90 entries glided down Kent Road for Stow’s Fourth of July parade. Temperatures stayed relatively comfortable before the heat index climbed into the high 90s later in the day....
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Has American flag’s symbolism shifted?
BREVARD COUNTY, FL — When Joy Howell bought a home in northern Virginia, she noticed several of her new neighbors adorned their residences with the American flag. “It concerned us that perhaps that was a political symbol and not necessarily a...
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DOJ defends withholding some Epstein documents
Justice Department officials in a new court filing released July 2 defended their limited release of investigative materials tied to the case of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The DOJ released 3.5 million pages of documents tied to Epstein,...
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Emerging class of scams employs AI
Aswanky white mansion compound in the heart of Agona Swedru, Ghana, stands in stark contrast to the dilapidated shanties just over its walls. h TikToks filmed inside the mansion show Abu Trica and his friends flaunting their immense wealth through...
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Kroger’s Giant Eagle purchase redraws grocery picture
The Kroger Co. acquisition of Giant Eagle in a billion-dollar deal paves the way for the return of the nation’s largest grocery chain to the Northeast Ohio market. h The Cincinnati-based supermarket goliath announced the purchase agreement, which adds...
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It’s full speed ahead for Quaker Station
When it comes to the renovation of Quaker Station, the train is about to leave the depot. On July 1, the Quaker Square Redevelopment Group fully took over operations at the Akron building off East Mill Street. The structure, part of the larger Quaker...
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Cosmic Baseball’s a big hit at Akron ballpark
In 2023, a few fans ran through Shepherd Stadium in Colonial Heights, Virginia, at a Coastal Plain League game with glow sticks. It was a packed house of 2,300 fans, but Chris Martin’s vision took flight that summer day. Fast forward to 2026 and neon...
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CrossFit competition helps to build more than muscle
CANTON – Jumping rope, deadlifting and flipping a 300-pound tire — that kind of intense workout is synonymous with CrossFit. It’s not for everybody. But in Ohio, that structure and sweat has given incarcerated youth a second chance. Often, young...
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A growing number of Akron-area young adults are ditching smartphones for less plugged-in lives
Brooke Williams made a drastic change in March when she replaced her iPhone with a flip phone that has no access to the internet. h The 22-yearold’s screen time plummeted to 20 minutes a day, from over nine hours. h The tipping point that led her to...
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Gas line blast rocks Twinsburg Township
A gas line explosion rocked Twinsburg Township on June 25, setting off a fire that destroyed three homes and damaged 23 others. The blast, which occurred around 4:40 p.m. Thursday, occurred an hour after the Twinsburg Fire Department and Summit County...
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Court hands immigration wins to Trump
WASHINGTON – The Supreme Court handed President Donald Trump a pair of immigration victories on one of its final decision days of the term by allowing him to turn back asylum-seekers at the southern border and to immediately halt temporary protection...
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Marathon goes extra mile for inclusivity
John Orenchuk stood on the outskirts of InfoCision Stadium with his direct support professional, Chad Palmer, debating what pose to strike once he crosses the finish line of the Akron Marathon one-mile race. h “Should we do the Rocky pose?” Palmer...
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Curious Creatures soon to leave Akron Zoo
Time is running out to visit a beloved Akron Zoo exhibit. h The zoo will be closing its Curious Creatures exhibit tucked inside of the Komodo Kingdom building on Aug. 3. h The area has been home over the years to a number of exhibits, including the...
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Life’s twists and turns led family to open new café
After establishing strong connections in and around Summit County, a local family with Filipino and Portuguese roots is inviting members of Firestone Park neighborhood to come by their new café – and stay awhile. h Stay Awhile Café, at 1762 Brown St....
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West Akron Parade honors Juneteenth
Corvette owners slowly rolled their sports cars down Copley Road in West Akron, followed by dancing cheerleaders. Representatives from Enviroscapes then threw candy out to children as they rode lawnmowers down the street. Big Mike’s Towing & Recovery...
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PLAYING IT THROUGH
Akron native Jamison Williams received a phone call from his paternal grandfather a few years ago, and five of the words he heard created a lasting impact. h “Don’t let my legacy die.” h It’s the message the 82-year-old Frank Williams delivered to his...
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Free retreat for those on cancer journey
Three women sat on a flight back from a restorative cancer retreat last year, freshly pampered and determined to bring the experience to Akron. For two days and two nights last April, Eileen Brown, Marisa Fatica and Kelly Inglett didn’t have to worry...
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10 years ago the Cavs made NBA history
The actual words can’t be written in this space, but “FAFO” definitely could describe what happened with the Cleveland Cavaliers before Game 5 of the 2016 NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors. (To keep things PG, we’ll say that stands for...
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Goodyear plans to tread once more on the moon
Goodyear has developed and tested tires for a number of uses and environments. But soon, its tires will carry humans to a place they’ve never been before. h The Akronbased company plans to have its tires on the moon in 2028 – which would be a first...
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Barberton sees mayoral shake-up
Less than 24 hours after Barberton Mayor William Judge abruptly resigned, City Council President Shorter Griffin was sworn in as the Magic City’s new mayor. h Judge was facing a public hearing that would have exposed allegations of wrongdoing against...
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Event addresses gun violence, role of dads
Anthony Butler dreams of his 1-year-old son, Armani, growing up in in a city without gun violence. h Butler knows how fast his son’s first year went — and worries about what dangers he could be exposed to as he grows older in Akron. h “I wish it would...
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Highland Tavern bar to close Fridays, Saturdays
The city of Akron has mounted pressure on the Highland Tavern, leveling accusations in the days after a shooting that left two injured in Highland Square. Now, the embattled tavern is temporarily closing on Fridays and Saturdays for the next few weeks,...
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