The head of the University of Akron's Experiential Learning (EXL) Center submitted his letter of resignation today. Interim UA President Matthew Wilson confirmed that he received an email from EXL founding director and Priceline.com co-founder Jeff Hoffman stating that he would be stepping down at the end of the month.

"We wish Jeff the best," said Wilson "Part of Jeff's letter to me was very sincere and very kind, offering to continue to assist as we move forward so that's very encouraging."

But there's no word on what will happen to the career-focused program that was launched earlier this year.

"In terms of whether or not it's going to stick around in its own current form or fashion, that's something that we're going to need to explore."

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UA Creates Real World Link

The 16-year-old student who was struck and killed by a school bus Wednesday afternoon in Norton has officially been identified.

The Norton Police Department has identified the Norton High School teen as Kyle Richmond, 16, of Barberton. The accident happened in the 3100 block Greenwich Road. Police said Richmond fell from a skate board and was hit by the school bus. Authorities said he suffered severe head trauma and was pronounced dead at the scene.

The Norton Police Department released this statement: "The entire city of Norton is devastated by this loss and expresses its support to the victim's family and entire student body and faculty within the Norton school system."

Akron police have arrested two women and issued warrants for another in connection with the assault of a 23-year-old woman at an apartment complex.

Police say the victim tried to get on the elevator at the apartment complex on Rentar Lane when she was attacked by three women Thursday around 3:30 p.m. Police say the three women spat on the victim, punched her in the face multiple times, hit her with a metal object and took the victim's cell phone. The victim suffered swelling to the head, bruising to both eyes and scrapes on her arms.

Officers and the building manager identified the suspects as Michelle M. Hardee, 21, Betty Long, 23, both of Rentar Lane, and Sierra D. Wiley, 19, of Eastlawn Street in Lorain.

Hardee has been charged with vandalism and assault . Wiley was also arrested and has been charged with assault . Warrants have been issued for Long for theft and felonious assault. Anyone with information on Long's whereabouts is asked to contact the Akron Police Department.

A 23-year-old Portage County man is facing more than a dozen charges after sheriff's deputies identified him as a person of interest in a string of breaking and entering incidents.

Deputies said there were a number of reported incidents in Rootstown and Suffield and Randolph townships. Austin Nichols, 23, of Suffield Township, was identified as the person taking some of the stolen items and selling then to various pawn shops in Northeast Ohio. The incident began in June and increased in July and August, according to the Portage County Sheriff's Office.

Authorities think Nichols fled the area and is in Florida. Nichols has been charged with 15 counts of breaking and entering. Warrants for his arrest have been issued.

Open communication was one of the main concerns students and alumni had last school year during the University of Akron's public challenges with budget cuts, layoffs and declining enrollment.

This year -- it's a fresh start with open dialogue between students and U of A's Interim President Mathew Wilson during a Town Hall meeting. 

"What I've noticed that has been different about [Wilson] in comparison to [former President Scott Scarborough] is he is talking to students," said UA senior Hayley Cargill. "I mean, he's giving out his personal phone number for people to text him. He really cares about the students and that's a big difference."

The university faced heavy criticism over the past year under the leadership of now-former President Scott Scarborough. In late May, the board of trustees and Scarborough reached a mutual agreement for Scarborough's resignation.

It came as no surprise that some of the questions at Wednesday afternoon's meeting were focused on the administration's transparency and open communication. Those were problems that were brought up under the leadership of Scarborough. But Wilson, who has been working as the interim president for eight weeks, was quick to say that he's focused on being a good "communicator."

Even some of Scarborough's toughest critics at the event said they feel hopeful about what's to come for the university.

"Just the way [Wilson] speaks is encouraging," said graduate student Thomas Guarino. "Talking about putting students first. I've heard that many times, repeated, over and over. That's very encouraging."

Cargill said she's hopeful about the new direction the university is headed and appreciates Wilson's focus of connecting with students on campus.

"I have yet to see what this year will hold, but I have a lot of hope that it'll be a lot better than last year. It already is." 

Wilson talked about the hours he has spent helping connect students with the proper resources, including an an email he received from a student who was faced with the possibility of being homeless. Wilson said he worked with the student to help find a solution to pay for housing.

The status on donations at the university was also brought up. Wilson said pledges are coming in -- and that a major donation is currently under consideration. He noted that the total is in the millions, but didn't release further details.

You'll have to reschedule plans if you were planning on going to the Bow Wow Dog Beach in Stow.

The park's website says it's closed through Thursday, Sept. 8 due to water quality issues.

Recent monitoring reportedly showed "bacterial levels trending upward." The beach is closed so crews can treat the water.

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(City of Stow) We routinely conduct monitoring of the lake water at Bow Wow Beach. The monitoring is to check up on water quality and to let us know whenever bacteria or algal toxin levels present a potential health risk to those using the facility.

Recent monitoring showed bacterial levels trending upward. As a precautionary measure, we have closed the beach and will continue to treat the water.

We will continue to monitor the lake water on a regular basis, and any time results show that bacteria and/or algal toxins are trending upward, the park will be closed as a precautionary measure.

Recent Improvements
Significant improvements to the park were made that will help the park endure the high attendance that is experienced on a daily basis; the erosion control project at the east bank of the lake helps to stabilize that area, and the addition of 500 tons of brand new, clean sand is not only aesthetically pleasing, but also contributes to restoration of the beach. Let's keep it clean!

A marijuana deal in West Akron turned into a robbery Wednesday afternoon.

Akron police say two females agreed to meet a man they met on Facebook to sell him small amount of marijuana in a parking in the 2000 block of West Market Street. When the man showed up, he allegedly reached into the female's car and grabbed a Crown Royal bag containing the marijuana and about $10 in cash. The man fled, but the females followed the man until he pulled over near Braewick Circle and Sand Run Road.

Police say the man allegedly pulled out a handgun and pointed it at the direction of the females. They drove away and called police.

APD identified the suspect as Dylante Richardson, 20, of Akron. He's been charged with aggravated robbery and booked into the Summit County Jail.

A fatal fire in Coventry Township is under investigation.

The Summit County Medical Examiner's Office reports 33-year-old Dana Lonteen was found inside the Portage Lakes Drive apartment when firefighters responded to a fire with heavy smoke around 6 o'clock Tuesday evening.

The victim was taken to Akron City Hospital where she later died from her injuries shortly after 9 p.m. on Wednesday.

Akron police say woman was shot by her boyfriend --- in front of her three children Wednesday evening.

Police say the 26-year-old woman was shot at an Inman Street home following an argument with her boyfriend, Jamarian Williams, 25, of Akron. The woman was found with multiple gunshot wounds to her her back, legs and hand. Officer say a newborn, a 3-year-old and a 4-year-old were inside the home during the shooting. The woman was taken to the hospital with life threatening injuries. The kids were not injured. They have been placed into the custody of Summit County Children Services.

Police caught up to Williams after he fled the scene and led police on a short chase, during which he tossed the gun out the window.

Williams is charged with felonious assault, having weapons while under disability, endangering children, domestic violence, willful fleeing, tampering with evidence, receiving stolen property, carrying a concealed weapon, and improperly handling a firearm in a motor vehicle.

According to police, officers recovered a gun that was thrown from the vehicle. The gun was reported stolen in 2011.

A 65-year-old man has been arrested and charged with raping an 85-year-old woman.

William M. Clark, 65, of Akron, was arrested after an investigation into allegations that the 85-year-old woman was sexually assaulted by an acquaintance in mid-July, according to the Summit County Sheriff's Office.

Deputies said the victim suffered several injuries including a "broken pelvic floor and torn ligaments in her hip."

Clark has been charged with two counts of rape. He was booked into the Summit County Jail.