The co-defendant in the murders of Jeffrey and Margaret Schobert in their New Franklin home losing an appeal to Ohio's Ninth District Court. Jamall Vaughn was underage when he and Shawn Ford went to the home and killed the Schoberts, the parents of Ford's girlfriend. They had been visiting her after Ford put daughter Chelsea into the hospital with a beating.

The appeals court rejected arguments from Vaughn's lawyers that his case shouldn't have been moved to adult court. He later pleaded to murder and other charges and is serving a 25 year sentence. Ford is on Ohio's Death Row. 

READ the complete Ohio Ninth District Court opinion HERE

A proposal from Akron-based FirstEnergy styled as an electric security plan was modified by Ohio's Public Utilities Commission to a fraction of what the company submitted, and now the utility is mulling over other steps it might take.

The Electric Security Plan was originally approved by state regulators in March after months of deliberations and opposition that included well-funded media campaigns from other competing utilities.

The FirstEnergy proposal originally sought an eight-year approval to generate $558 million dollars per year in what is termed a "Distribution Modernization Rider," or DMR, which would provide the utility with capital to modernize it's electric distribution system. Under the modifications approved by the PUCO released today, that DMR was instead set at $132 million dollars annually over a three-year period with an additional two-year extension possible.

PUCO Chairman Asim Z. Haque said "We expect that these future endeavors will advance the electric industry in FirstEnergy's service territory and benefit Ohio's consumers and businesses."

The bottom line for most customers, FirstEnergy said in a news release, is an average increase of $3 monthly for the average customer using 750 kilowatt-hours per month. FirstEnergy says the overall monthly bills will still be lower than over the past year but CEO Charles E. Jones called the decision "disappointing" and said it would leave the company short in what was needed to cover necessary investments.

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(PUCO)The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) today rejected FirstEnergy's modified Retail Rate Stability (RRS) rider or "virtual PPA" proposal. The Commission ordered FirstEnergy's Ohio utilities to establish PUCO staff's recommended Distribution Modernization Rider (DMR) instead, and to eliminate the existing RRS rider.

In its application for rehearing, FirstEnergy proposed to modify rider RRS such that it would continue as a financial hedge, but would not be tied to the physical operation of generation in the state. The Commission rejected FirstEnergy's proposal because it lacked important benefits related to reliability, resource diversity and economic development.

Rider DMR, set at $132.5 million per year (to be grossed up for taxes annually), will provide FirstEnergy with an infusion of capital so that it will be financially healthy enough to make future investments in grid modernization. The Commission limited Rider DMR to three years, with the possibility of a two-year extension, subject to Commission approval. FirstEnergy requested that Rider DMR be granted in the amount of $558 million per year for eight years.

During the term of rider DMR, FirstEnergy will maintain its headquarters in Akron, Ohio, and make sufficient progress in grid modernization initiatives ordered by the Commission, including its deployment of smart grid technology in the companies' service territories.

"The DMR's primary purpose is to ensure that FirstEnergy retains a certain level of financial health and creditworthiness so that it can invest in future distribution modernization endeavors," stated Chairman Asim Z. Haque. "We expect that these future endeavors will advance the electric industry in FirstEnergy's service territory and benefit Ohio's consumers and businesses."

In May, FirstEnergy and other interested parties filed applications for rehearing following the PUCO's March 31, 2016 opinion and order establishing an electric security plan. An evidentiary hearing was held at the PUCO in July and August 2016 in order for interested parties to provide testimony on the rehearing applications.

A copy of the PUCO order can be read here. 

Response from FirstEnergy

(FirstEnergy Corporation)FirstEnergy Corp.'s (NYSE: FE) Ohio utilities – Ohio Edison, Cleveland Electric Illuminating and Toledo Edison – today announced that the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) has approved modifications to Powering Ohio's Progress, the companies' comprehensive Electric Security Plan (ESP) originally approved in March.

The PUCO order authorizes the companies to collect approximately $204 million per year over a three-year term. The charge is expected to result in a $3 increase on monthly bills, or about three percent, for a typical residential customer using 750 kilowatt-hours per month. With the new charge, total monthly bills for FirstEnergy's residential customers are expected to be lower than they were a year ago and remain among the lowest in the state.

"Today's decision is disappointing for our customers," said Charles E. Jones, FirstEnergy President and Chief Executive Officer. "While we clearly demonstrated to the PUCO what is essential to ensure reliability for customers in the future, the amount granted is insufficient to cover the necessary and costly investments. The decision also fails to recognize the significant challenges that threaten Ohio utilities' ability to effectively operate." 

The company is evaluating the Commission's order and considering next steps.

UPDATE 3:58 PM 9/12/16: Akron Public Schools announced Monday afternoon that Ellet High School will be closed again Tuesday, as cleanup continues.

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(Previous coverage) Ellet High School will be closed Monday as smoke damage is assessed following a late-evening fire Saturday that apprently started in a room used for building maintenance and the school's construction program.

Firefighters were alerted by an alarm triggered around 11:00 p.m.

Damage estimates haven't been released but the worst of the fire was contained to the room and adjoining area, although firefighters did find hallways filled with "light smoke" on their arrival at 304 Wolf Avenue. AFD responded with multiple alarm calls that included four fire engine trucks, a medical unit, a pair of battalion commanders and additional shift commander on site as well as an arson investigator. Firefighters used a foam truck which also doubles as a ventilation truck to help exhaust the smoke from the building.

Akron Public School opted to keep the school closed tomorrow while clean-up and investigation into the cause continues.

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(Akron Fire Department)Akron Fire responded to a private alarm at 304 Wolf Ave Ellet High School. Companies on scene
investigated the building and found light smoke in the hallways. The alarm was upgraded to 2nd alarm that includes 4 Engines ,2 Ladder trucks, 2 Battalion Commanders, Med unit, Shift Commander, and Arson investigator. After a search of the building room to room, Firefighters were able to locate the fire and extinguish it.

Foam Truck 660, which is also a large commercial ventilation truck, was called in to assist in ventilating the smoke from the building. Unknown at the time of this press release of the extent of the damages or where at in the building was effected most.

The Heroin Epidemic front and center in Akron again; firefighters say they responded to an EMS call last night on Concord Avenue that revealed three people suffering from an overdose, with a three year old child missing. The child was found wandering a street away but is safe; all three were taken to local hospitals.

Even then -- the story wasn't done. Paramedics were sent back to the same house later to treat a fourth victim.

Additionally, another 20 overdoses were reported by NewsChannel 5. One overdose also blamed for a car crash near Macy's at Chapel Hill. The vehicle didn't hit any buildings reports NewsChannel 5 but hit a guard rail and then burst into flames. He was burned but expected to survive. Two other OD victims were found by police on public walkways, one on a South Canton Road sidewalk and another in a parking lot outside a restaurant on Brittain Road.

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(AFD) Akron Fire responded to a multiple overdose. Initially 3 adults treated and transported. A Report that a 3 yo was on scene and wondered off during the overdoses.

A search was performed of the general neighbor hood area. APD located the child in the backyard of an address a street over. An adult saw the child wandering around and started watching the child with her own children until APD arrived.

Shortly after the Med units and fire companies cleared the scene, a fourth  patient showed up at the same address overdosed. A fourth Med unit was dispatched and treated/transported the patient.

There's a new top doc at Akron General. The Cleveland Clinic, which operates the Akron hospital, named Brian Harte, M.D. to take over as the new president starting September 26th. Harte should be no stranger to the area. He's run Cleveland Clinic's Hillcrest Hospital and South Pointe Hospital recently. Acting president Janice Murphy, R.N. returns to her position as Chief Operating Officer for the Clinic's Regional Operations.

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(Cleveland Clinic Akron General) After a thorough review by the search committee, with unanimous endorsement by the Executive Committee of the Akron General Board of Trustees, Cleveland Clinic has selected Brian Harte, M.D., to serve as the new president of Cleveland Clinic Akron General and the Southern Region beginning Sept. 26th.

Dr. Harte has been with Cleveland Clinic since 2004, serving in numerous leadership roles. For the past three years, he has served as president of Cleveland Clinic Hillcrest Hospital, a 500-bed flagship hospital in the Cleveland Clinic health system. Prior to Hillcrest, Dr. Harte was the president of Cleveland Clinic South Pointe Hospital.

"Brian is uniquely qualified to bring transformational leadership to Akron and throughout the Southern region," said J. Stephen Jones, M.D., president of Cleveland Clinic Regional Hospitals and Family Health Centers. "The integration of Cleveland Clinic and Akron General is succeeding at a rapid pace. I'm confident with Brian's experience and proven successful leadership we will continue to drive positive change and to actualize true regionalization and grow our services for the benefit of the Akron community."

Dr. Harte has been instrumental in leading Hillcrest Hospital through improvements in safety and quality, while establishing a patient-centered culture of care and clinical alignment. In addition, he has continued to build strong community collaboration and developed a leadership curriculum throughout the hospital. Under his leadership, Hillcrest Hospital achieved Magnet designation, one of just 400 in the country; accomplished re-accreditation by the Joint Commission; and received many other meaningful recognitions for its stroke, obstetrical, pediatric and cardiac care. The hospital has also been ranked in the top five in Northeast Ohio for two consecutive years by US News & World Report.

"I look forward to joining Cleveland Clinic Akron General and working together to continue the momentum in growing and supporting services and programs in the Akron community," Dr. Harte said. "Akron General is an incredible health system which provides robust healthcare and I am honored to serve in this role and expand access for patients throughout Northeast Ohio."

Dr. Harte is a practicing hospitalist and the former chairman of the Department of Hospital Medicine and the Medicine Institute at Cleveland Clinic. He earned his undergraduate degree from Yale University and his medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania. He completed his residency in internal medicine at the University of California, San Francisco and was in private practice for five years prior to joining Cleveland Clinic in 2004. He is an Associate Professor of Medicine in the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine at Case Western Reserve University. He also currently serves as the President of the Society of Hospital Medicine.

Janice Murphy, R.N., who currently serves as the Acting President of Akron General will return to her role as Chief Operating Officer for Cleveland Clinic Regional Operations. Her dedication and continued leadership to Akron General and the Akron community is deeply appreciated.

Just a handful of arrests coming out of two OVI checkpoints in Summit County last night, one in Richfield Township and the other in Boston Township. Only one was for impaired driving; two juveniles were arrested for underage consumption while a fourth was cited for driving on a temporary motorcycle endorsement restriction.

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(Summit County OVI Task Force) On Friday August 26th 2016, the Summit County OVI Task Force conducted two sobriety checkpoints; one in Richfield Township and the other in Boston Township.

The first checkpoint was conducted at 3072 Streetsboro Road:

188- Vehicles passed through the checkpoint in total
08- Vehicles were directed into the diversion area for further investigation or violations
01- Person was cited for violations of a temporary motorcycle endorsement restrictions

The second checkpoint was conducted at 5162 Akron-Cleveland Road:

250- Vehicles passed through the checkpoint in total
11- Vehicles were directed into the diversion area for further investigation or violations
01- Person was arrested for OVI
02- People were arrested for underage consumption
02- Vehicles were impounded

A New Franklin man has entered a guilty plea in the death of a man he attacked in the parking lot of a Norton strip club. Prosecutors say 37 year-old Robert Lantz got into a fight with 63 year-old Daniel Carraway at Desiree's in Norton last November. The men were kicked out of the bar, and Lantz attacked Carraway in the parking lot of the strip club...police got there and found Carraway unresponsive.

He was later pronounced dead after being taken to the hospital. Lantz faces sentencing on October 4th.

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(Summit County Prosecutor's Office) Summit County Prosecutor Sherri Bevan Walsh announced today that Robert Lantz Jr., 37, of Lullaby Lane in New Franklin, pled guilty in connection with the death of a man at a Norton strip-club.Lantz pled guilty to the following charge:Involuntary Manslaughter – a felony of the 1st degreeOn November 19, 2015, Lantz got into a physical altercation with 63-year-old Daniel Carraway at Desiree’s in Norton. After they were kicked out of the bar, Lantz attacked Carraway in the parking lot. Police arrived and found Carraway unresponsive. Carraway was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.Summit County Common Pleas Court Judge Scot Stevenson is scheduled to sentence Lantz on October 4 at 1pm.

ODOT video showing a minivan slowing down on I-77 southbound after it was shot on the highway early Wednesday morning near the Pro Football Hall of Fame is out; the grainy footage shows the vehicle coming to a stop, followed by traffic moving around it and a trooper's vehicle coming to the scene.

The woman driving the Kia minivan around 3:45 a.m. was struck in the hand and grazed in the head after multiple gunshots targeted her car. She pulled over then fled the scene and sought assistance in a nearby home. She was taken to a local hospital for non-life threatening injuries, reported the Ohio State Highway Patrol. 

Police say it appeared the woman was targeted in the attack. 

FULL VIDEO at the Canton Repository coverage

Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine says the state has already saved more than $200-thousand dollars thanks to a rebate deal with the drug company that makes the medication used to help reverse overdoses before they become fatal.

Local EMS, fire and police agencies get a rebate on Naloxone syringes; the drug is often refered to as "Narcan" and so far 82 agencies in the state have taken advantage of the program, DeWine says.

Akron police Friday began carrying doses of the life-saving medication in police cruisers for those times when police respond first to the scene, ahead of paramedics. Local hospitals are helping with the supply.

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(Ohio Attorney General) Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine sent a letter to members of law enforcement today reminding them that rebates are available for law enforcement agencies that carry naloxone. When given to a person overdosing on opioids such as heroin, fentanyl, carfentanil, or a prescription opioid, naloxone can limit or stop the overdose by reversing the effects of the opioid on the brain.

In March, Attorney General DeWine announced that he renewed an agreement with Amphastar Pharmaceuticals, Inc. to allow law enforcement, fire departments, emergency medical services, and others to receive a $6 rebate for each Amphastar naloxone syringe purchased until March 2017.

During the first year of the rebate agreement, 82 Ohio agencies were reimbursed a total of more than $209,000 to offset the cost of the life-saving drug. "Heroin, fentanyl, and now carfentanil continue to take and risk the lives of many Ohioans every single day," Attorney General DeWine said in his letter. "For those of you who are not yet carrying naloxone, I strongly encourage you to do so. Naloxone is another tool to help ensure the safety of your community members."

According to a report released yesterday by the Ohio Department of Health, drug overdose deaths in Ohio increased from 2,531 in 2014 to 3,050 in 2015, including 1,155 fentanyl-related drug overdose deaths. Attorney General DeWine recently warned law enforcement about the risks faced by officers who field test potent opioids like fentanyl. Alerts sent out by the Attorney General's Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) in June and July warned that law enforcement should collect drug evidence with caution. Because drug absorption can occur through mucus membranes or broken skin, BCI recommended that any suspected heroin or fentanyl not be field tested as it could contain potent synthetic opioids such as carfentanil.

"These drugs are so dangerous to anyone who encounters them that we've recently increased safety precautions for BCI forensic scientists who test these drugs in our state crime labs, and we also have naloxone on hand in case the drugs are accidentally ingested," said Attorney General DeWine.