The Summit County Medical Examiner's Office and Akron police are investigating a crash that left one person dead in Akron Thursday afternoon.

The Medical Examiner's office reports the crash happened at the intersection of Russell and East Avenue around 4 p.m.

The vehicle reportedly crossed the intersection at East Avenue and went airborne, crossed over the center lane and struck a vehicle, utility pole, and then another vehicle.

The driver was ejected from the car and was later pronounced dead at the scene. The identity of the victim has yet to be released. 

When a woman or man is faced with the decision to get a mammogram, the last thing they want to think about is the cost.

It's a problem that Akron General Health System is well aware of and it's why the hospital continues to offer free mammograms to women and men who can't afford one -- through their Muffins For Mammograms program.

"I would have never been able to afford a mammogram. With no insurance, it's quite expensive." said Lisa Neidert.

Neidert received one of the more than 10,000 free mammograms given out since the beginning of Muffins for Mammograms which launched in 1992. The more than 20-year-old program has raised nearly $900,000.

"If they're uninsured, under-insured and they need the mammogram, call us," said Kathy Lukity, RN, at Akron General. " We'll talk to them about getting a physician , because we do like them to have a physician on board in case they need help with the results."

There's no age limit to qualify for the Muffins for Mammograms program, but there are several guidelines that a person should follow including having a written order from a primary care physician. Click here for more details.

"Muffins for Mammograms got me to where I could get treatment, said Neidert. "Without it, I could still be waiting and cancer growing inside of me."

Editor's Note: WAKR's sister station, 94.9 WQMX, held their 16th annual Bosom Buddies event Wednesday, benefiting the Muffins for Mammograms program. Below is a video presented at the program that highlighted the Muffins for Mammograms program at Akron General. 

Akron police arrested three juveniles and a 24-year-old Akron woman for allegedly robbing a man at gunpoint around midnight Wednesday.

A 36-year-old man told police he was walking with his girlfriend and three young boys near 7th Street SW when one of the juveniles pulled out a gun. The boy told the man to empty his pockets, but the victim says he didn't have anything to give them. The boy fired a shot from the gun and was joined by another juvenile who pulled out a knife and threatened the man.

Police arrested the three boys and 24-year-old Rita M. Chupp of Manchester Road.

They were charged with aggravated robbery and curfew violations . Chupp was booked into the Summit County Jail and the juveniles were placed in the custody of the Summit County Juvenile Court.

Officers recovered a handgun that was reportedly used in the robbery.

It's not the first time San Francisco-based artist Hunter Franks has done something like this -- but it is his largest project. 

With help from the Knight Foundation, Franks was able to bring together 500 Akronites together for one shared meal on a 500-foot long table. Oh -- and it's sitting on Akron's Innerbelt.  

There's been a lot of back-and-forth as to whether or not the University of Akron is changing its official name. Northeast Ohio Media Group published a story last week about the University of Akron Women's Committee who were upset with the new band uniforms that no longer feature the word "Akron" or the letter "A". The committee is concerned that it could be the next step in the direction of a name change.

UA officials responded, stating that "Z" is unique, and helps UA with its marketing. But concerns only grew when NEOMG published a photo of a slide that was reportedly shown by university officials at presentations. It showed three different logos -- with the business name as "The Ohio Tech University."

University officials are once again working to clear up any confusion or rumors circulating the web.

In an email, UA spokesman Wayne Hill says the slide referenced in NEOMG's story was introduced several months ago when the university was exploring "a name change as part of strategic planning conversations." But he says the name change was "considered and then discarded." That's when UA decided to move forward with rebranding the university as "Ohio's Polytechnic University."

Also -- there are currently no active trademarks related to a possible name change, according to the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) online database. But there are trademark files related to updating the university's logo to include "Ohio's Polytechnic University" -- which is currently being used on the university's website and in publications.

The most recent logo/design was issued on September 3rd -- which featured UA's mascot, Zippy, who appears to be wearing the athletic logo "Z" on his shirt instead of the letter "A."

Source: United States Patent and Trademark Office

The University of Akron is defending its decision to hire an outside company to provide student success coaches in the midst of a projected $60 million shortfall. Associate Vice President of Student Success Stacey Moore was part of the committee that recommended approving an $843,000 contract with Trust Navigator, a company with no prior experience working with a success coaching program. 

Trust Navigator was picked over InsideTrack, a nationally recognized program with around 15 years of experience. UA officials were impressed with InsideTrack's record, but the univeristy wanted to team up with a local program that would provide on-campus resources. Despite Trust Navigator's lack of student coaching experience, the university was interested with the company's goals -- including hiring UA graduates and working directly with students on campus. Moore said there's already research that proves direct and consistent contact with students improves retention. And that's what she said Trust Navigator is offering.

"We're not flying blind on Trust Navigator, even though they don't have a proven track record in higher education," Moore said. "It is attractive to us that they're hiring our own graduates, recent alumni. That means they're contributing to our student success after graduation."

Moore said tackling a program, like the one offered by Trust Navigator, on their own would require more money, more time and create a larger, more permanent risk.

"Keep in mind that this is a pilot [program], so we also want the ability to watch it, judge if it's successful and if it's not, then we can move outside of our contract pretty quickly, in a way that would not be as easy if we hired a whole set of people internally," said Moore. 

Moore estimates that it would have cost UA about $1.3 million, possibly more, to launch the program on their own. While InsideTrack would have cost the university around $1.66 million, Moore said one of the major disadvantages with the program would be the lack of on-campus coaching to provide face-to-face communication with students.

As for Trust Navigator's lack of prior experience in higher education, Moore continued to reiterate the fact that the university has the ability to terminate the contract at any time if they're not happy with the service. That's something Moore said wouldn't be easy if they hired their own staff. 

The program doesn't replace the role of advisors or counselors at the university. Moore said it's a service that adds a more personal coaching method that students can utilize both in and out of the classroom.

Moore admits that the committee didn't take a look at Trust Navigator's website before picking the company to launch the program at the university, but she says they focused on the responses to the request for proposal that was released in late June. Despite the university's recent budget cuts, including eliminating 213 jobs, Moore believes the process of making investments remains crucial.

"As challenging as it is, and we are certainly living the challenge of difficult fiscal times, if you fail to invest in anything, then I don't know how you move forward."

UA plans to take the lead on the project and oversee how Trust Navigator coaches are trained before meeting with students. 

Previous Coverage: 

InsideTrack: "We Had 8 Business Days To Respond"

REPORT: Trust Navigator Questions Building

Who -- Or What -- Is Trust Navigator?

UA Trustees Agree To Cut Jobs, Rescind Course Fee

As the University of Akron eliminated more than 213 jobs this week including over 50 jobs in its Department of Student Success, board of trustees also approved a move to spend $843,000 on a company that would provide "success coaches" for students.

But details on the company delivering those "coaches" are limited with the exception of a single article on the website FreshWaterCleveland.com published last month or the company's own website. Trust Navigator searches respond with links directly to the company's website or background on some of the key staff listed by the company.

On Monday, board of trustees approved plans to enter an agreement with Trust Navigator, LLC, a not-for-profit organization based out of Mayfield Heights, to provide coaches to work "closely with this fall’s incoming freshman class." The package of layoffs approved by Trustees included deep cuts in the existing "student success" bureaucracy at the University.

According to Trust Navigator's website, the coaches are "assigned to a student until graduation" focusing on "academic success and retention." While those goals are in line with UA's mission to focus on student success, there is little known about Trust Navigator's prior clients or experience in the educational field. In examining the Trust Navigator website there are no references to existing clients or events. WAKR.net reached out to UA officials for comment, but our request was acknowledged by a University spokesperson who noted key individuals who could answer any inquiry were on vacation and would not be available until next week. WAKR has requested copies of documents presented to the University of Akron Board of Trustees outlining the student success agreement and the contact between the firm and University as well as other documents which may provide other information about Trust Navigator's experience.

Trust Navigator's website does include some information regarding the past experience of those directly involved in the organization, including Trust Navigator's Chief Ambassador, Tom Roulston. He's listed as the “ideas man” behind the company with "30 years of entrepreneurial experience." Roulston currently runs two companies, Roulston Buyside Research and Thomas Roulston Investment Partners.

Rob Reho, Chief Operations Ambassador, has more than 32 years of "experience in marketing and operations management." According to the company's website, Reho graduated from the University of Akron with a bachelor’s degree in Business and Organizational Communications and completed his MBA at Kent State University. He serves as the interim General Manager for Flohr Machine and is the owner of Executive Marketing Plus.Reho returned our calls but was unable to provide additional information, explaining he was also on vacation this week but would be in a position to provide more background next week.

In the position of Communications and Curriculum Ambassador, the first staffer recognized on the website, Grace Roulston, is listed as a graduate from Ohio University with a Major in Communications and a Minor in Film Studies. According to the website, she worked in marketing for Save Local Now, a startup company where she gained "experience working with entrepreneurs and getting to learn about a variety of small businesses." The website was revised Thursday afternoon to list Anna Zeller instead of Roulston in the position of "Chief Envoy Ambassador" with a qualification listing her college career at Allegheny College and the University of Akron where she also played on the women's soccer team. A graduate Summa Cum Laude with a Major in History and a Minor in Art history, Zeller "...accepted the opportunity to work at Trust Navigator and help other college students maximize their educational experience' according to the website.

Details in regards to Trust Navigator's history is limited, but a quick search revealed that in a 2005 revised disclosure form, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) listed Trust Navigator, LLC as an investment adviser --- but is now listed as "NOT currently registered and is NOT filing reports with the SEC or any state." Kenneth A. Louard, former director of operations and chief counsel with the Cleveland Browns, and Tom Roulston were listed in the SEC filing as managing partners.

Louard is currently the director of business development at Grain Management, LLC in Sarasota, Florida.WAKR.net searched for more information on Louard; there were three LinkedIn profiles for a Ken or Kenneth Louard and all appear to be of the same person with business interests in northeast Ohio and affiliation with an investment and equity firm in Sarasota, Florida. In one, the Harvard Business School educated Louard is listed as the owner of Trust Navigator, LLC. A more comprehensive listing shows Louard as a Director of Grain Management LLC of Sarasota since August 2012. Grain Management is listed as a private equity firm specializing in media and communications sectors with two flagship funds managing "...a number of the country’s leading academic institutions, endowments, and public pension funds." Louard's LinkedIn resume also includes more than seven years with the Cleveland Browns serving as Director of Operations and Chief Counsel and as partner for more than three years with the Cleveland-based law firm of Gonzalez, Saggio and Harlan.

University of Akron board of trustees agreed to reverse the university's decision to impose a $50 per credit hour fee on upper-level courses -- but also agreed to cut 213 positions.

UA spokesman Wayne Hill said employees will be notified on Monday and Tuesday.

The moves were made after the university announced plans to eliminate a $60 million dollar shortfall over the next few years.

Trustees didn't take any questions from faculty, staff and students. Some waited two hours to speak after trustees held an executive session.

Previous Coverage: 

UA Plans To Reverse $50 Credit Hour Fee

AUDIO "Save Akron Baseball" Gaining Steam

UA Faculty Senate Leader: Still Need To Cut Football

AUDIO UA Interim AD: Baseball's Gone, No Football Drop

UPDATE AUDIO UA Planning To Cut Jobs, Baseball Program

The University of Akron is planning to reverse its decision to add a $50 per credit hour fee on higher level courses.

President Scott Scarborough released a statement this morning announcing the change and plans to ask the Board of Trustees to remove the "upper-division program fee."

Scarborough plans to make the official recommendation at a special board meeting on July 27.

The Ohio Department of Higher Education was looking into the fee increase to determine if the fees were being used to get around Ohio's tuition freeze.

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(UA President Scott Scarborough) "Following the passage of the state budget, The University of Akron has worked with the Chancellor's Office of the Ohio Department of Higher Education and with legislators to address how best our institution can achieve a sustainable financial position that protects academic quality and ensures the investments necessary to enable the University to fulfill its mission going forward.

"The University's Board of Trustees approved a FY2016 budget on June 10, prior to the adoption of the state budget. In addition to reducing expenditures significantly, the budget included several fee increases, including an upper-division program fee. The state budget adopted on June 30 contains an increase in the State Share of Instruction for higher education, with approximately $4 million in additional funding to UA. We are grateful to the legislature under the leadership of Senate President Keith Faber and House Speaker Cliff Rosenberger and to Governor John Kasich for the additional funding.

"We also appreciate the intention of Chancellor John Carey and State Representative Kirk Schuring to work with the state legislature to resolve a unique financial burden on UA resulting from its status as the only university participating in the School Employees Retirement System of Ohio (SERS). Due to SERS regulations, UA is forced to pay a 'surcharge' on its contribution to the system that artificially increases the university's payment by more than $1.2 million annually.

"I am asking our Board of Trustees to approve retracting the upper-division program fee previously established and amending the FY2016 operating budget accordingly. I will make that recommendation at a special Board meeting on July 27. The net change to the University's budget will be relatively flat due to the increase in state funding and the planned changes related to SERS."

Jonathan Pavloff, Chairman of UA's Board of Trustees, said, "The conversations with Chancellor Carey and legislative leadership have resulted in them better understanding and appreciating the steps we are taking to strengthen our financial position so that we can maintain our academic excellence and invest in the growth of the University. Their support of our efforts is very much appreciated."