On the one year anniversary of Akron police officer Justin Winebrenner's death, his father is moving forward with a new project to support local law enforcement officers across Summit County.

Winebrenner has announced the launch of Project Blue Light, JW1301, which is part of a nationwide effort to honor service members in the community.

"I think this blue light would tell those officers out there at night time, and the people driving around, that 'there's a supporter of peace keepers,'" said Winebrenner. "... this blue light represents anybody who's other in the service industry and even our military people."

Winebrenner said the bulbs will be available at local venues across the area, including at the Barberton Police Department where some officers will make a personally delivery to those who request a blue light for their home.

Donations are being accepted and will be used to purchase additional blue lights to be distributed around the area. 

Updates and more information can be found on the Justin Winebrenner Memorial Page on Facebook.

A recent report out shows that around 640,000 job will be available in Northeast Ohio over the next decade. More than 120,000 of those openings will be new jobs. 

The nonprofit organization, Team Northeast Ohio, found that the jobs openings are expected by 2025 due new job creation and turnover.

Although sale and administrative positions lead the expected job openings, Greater Akron Chamber president and CEO Dan Colantone says the opportunities will be diverse.

"You have a lot of different sectors of the economy that are going to see retirements and you're going to see opportunities in so many different fields," said Colantone.

Colantone says companies, big and small, need to make connections with local colleges and vocational schools to attract the younger workforce and keep them in Northeast Ohio.

"While we're addressing the workforce needs, while we're trying to attract business, while we're trying to keep the business here, we also have to have a livable community."

Click here to view the full Team Northeast Ohio report.

While the investigation continues into the deadly Akron plane crash that took the lives of all nine people on board, the American Red Cross is actively offering their support to the 11 families who were affected by the damage left behind.

"We provided initial assistance to those families. Right now, we're waiting to see what kind of services they need, if any, as follow-up," said Spokesman Jim McIntyre with the American Red Cross Northeast Ohio Region.

The local chapter of the Red Cross will also be assisting the families with a recovery plan.

"We'll refer them to whatever appropriate agencies they need. We are also going to assist them with a recovery plan if they need that and we also have mental health services available if those are needed."

At the crash site on Mogadore Road, the Red Cross is also on scene to provide food, water and coffee to first responders and investigators.

There's a wind advisory today for several Northeast Ohio communities, including Summit, Stark, Portage and Medina counties. The National Weather Service reports wind gusts could hit up to 55 miles per hour. The advisory is in effect until 10 tonight.

"As far as this time of year, this is what we call the storm season for the Great Lakes region," said Meteorologist Kirk Lombardy with NWS in Cleveland.

The wind strength could have the power to knock down tree limbs and power lines.

"Also, anything that's not tied down or secured could become airborne or blown away from your yard."

According to Lombardy, this is a typical November storm for the Great Lakes region.

"Typically we see storms that travel through the Great Lakes and cause some very strong wind events. Look at the event of the Edmund Fitzgerald that occurred on November 10."

In 1975, the SS Edmund Fitzgerald ship sank during a storm in Lake Superior, killing 29 people on Nov. 10.

Finding an empty animal shelter is rare, but it is possible. Just ask officials with Summit County Animal Control. The 6th Annual Summit County Adopt-A-Thon over the weekend found a home for every single animal at the shelter.

"We put all of the animals, dogs and cats, up for adoption for $10," said Animal Control Manager Christine Fatheree. "It was a great turnout. We adopted out 93 animals."

Over the past six years, the event has helped to place 809 animals in new homes.

"This is our sixth year doing it and we've never emptied out the facility," said Fatheree. "We've never been able to get every single animal a home."

While the event was a success, Fatheree said everyday brings a new challenge. The shelter has already picked up about 30 animals. Fatheree says the shelter brings in more than a dozen animals everyday.

On the web: https://co.summitoh.net.

The shooting death of a 27-year-old man over the weekend in Green is under investigation.

The Summit County Medical Examiner reports the man, identified as Corey S. Seibel of Green, was shot at his home in the 2700 block of Long Road around 11 o'clock Sunday night. 

The Summit County Sheriff's Office reports Seibel suffered multiple gunshot wounds to the chest. He was pronounced dead at the scene about an hour and a half later.

Details related to a possible suspect or motive were not released.

The trial of a Medina father whose one-year-old daughter's body was found dead in her crib begins today.

Eric Warfel, 35, of Medina, has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. He's accused of putting trash in a room to cover up the smell of the decomposing body of Ember Warfel.

The baby's body was found by a cable installer in late July.

Warfel has been charged with child endangering, gross abuse of a corpse, tampering with evidence, and possession of cocaine.

Previous Coverage: 

More Charges For Medina Father Who Left Dead Daughter In Crib

Medina Dad Pleads Insanity

Father Of Dead Baby Indicted By Grand Jury

$1 Million Bond For Medina Father Accused In Toddler's Death

The latest court hearing to determine whether former Akron police Captain Doug Prade will get a new trial has concluded.

Defense experts were testifying in court about the DNA found on the lab coat of Prade's ex-wife, Dr. Margo Prade.

The hearing is similar to one held in 2012 that led to Prade being exonerated. That decision was eventually reversed. Judge Christine Croce decided to hold another hearing instead of relying on transcripts.

Judge Croce has asked for written closing arguments to be filed with the court in four weeks. She will then determine whether Prade gets a new trial.

Previous Coverage: 

Prade Hearing Over, Written Decision Comes Later

Court To Hear Arguments For New Murder Trial

Prade's New Trial Request "Under Advisement"

Court Turns Down Latest Prade Appeal

Date Set For Prade Murder New Trial Hearing

Prade New Trial Order Sent Back To Summit County Court

UPDATE Prade Ordered Back Behind Bars

The Akron RubberDucks are celebrating news that the team is the recipient of the 50th annual Larry MacPhail Award, which is given to a minor league baseball team that has demonstrated unique and creative promotional efforts.

The team was recognized for their innovative promotions and theme nights that helped to bring in more than 340-thousand fans to Canal Park in 2015.

The RubberDucks will pick up the award at the Baseball Winter Meetings Banquet on Dec. 6 in Nashville, Tennessee.

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(Minor League Baseball - News Release) ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Minor League Baseball announced today that the Akron RubberDucks are the recipients of the 50th annual Larry MacPhail Award, symbolizing the top promotional effort in Minor League Baseball. The award has been presented since 1966 and is named after Hall of Famer Leland Stanford "Larry" MacPhail, Sr., who introduced innovations such as night baseball, airplane travel, pension plans and batting helmets. The Akron RubberDucks will receive their award at the Baseball Winter Meetings Banquet on Sunday, Dec. 6, at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville, Tennessee.

Using innovative promotions and theme nights to attract and engage fans, the Akron RubberDucks welcomed 340,916 fans through the gates of Canal Park during the 2015 season. The RubberDucks used a variety of theme nights, in-game promotions and giveaways, specialty foods and fireworks shows to average more than 5,000 fans per game.

"On behalf of the RubberDucks organization, we are humbled and ecstatic to be recognized as the top promotional team in all of Minor League Baseball," said Jim Pfander, Akron RubberDucks general manager. "It is a tremendous honor to receive this prestigious award that is so well-known throughout Minor League Baseball. The credit belongs to our owner, Ken Babby, with his vision of creating an unparalleled fan experience for affordable, family entertainment in Northeast Ohio, as well as the entire front office staff in Akron. Our staff's tireless efforts to bring Canal Park to life not only during 71 home games, but throughout the calendar year, are second to none."

"The RubberDucks promotions are unique in that they not only increase attendance at Canal Park, but benefit the Akron community as well," said president & chief executive officer of Minor League Baseball, Pat O'Conner. "Their promotions are innovative and entertaining, and are in large part the reason they won this award. Congratulations to the Akron RubberDucks, and on behalf of Minor League Baseball, I commend them on an outstanding season."

In addition to a strong promotional calendar, the Akron RubberDucks announced FirstEnergy as the first-ever presenting sponsor in franchise history. The sponsorship included many activation pieces and a co-branded logo. The co-branded logo was featured on the sleeves of staff shirts and the 2015 starting lineups were "powered by FirstEnergy." The July 3 fireworks show was the largest activation piece of the sponsorship, drawing 8,258 fans.

"We are thrilled to bring this award to Akron for the first time and for a sixth time overall for the Eastern League in the 50-year history of this award," added Pfander. "Larry MacPhail was an incredible innovator who cared deeply about promoting baseball and making games memorable experiences for fans of all ages. To be associated with an award that bears his name is itself an honor."

Akron's Mayor-elect Dan Horrigan used his first press conference this morning, following his election win Tuesday, to announce details related to a new advisory board that will look into the city's financial and economic health.

"It's just not looking at things that are wrong, but also looking at things that are right and improving them," said Horrigan .

Horrigan announced that the city of Akron will be forming the Blue Ribbon Task Force, which will be led by Tim Ochsenhirt, a retired managing partner at Roetzel & Andress.

"We're going to look at the finances of the city. We're going to look at the operations of the city and some of the opportunities and risks that the city may face," said Ochsenhirt.

The task force will be comprised of several local leaders, including Dan Colantone, president and CEO of the Greater Akron Chamber and David James, superintendent of Akron Public Schools.

According to Horrigan, the task force has been asked to focus on the following areas:

· City finances

· City operations

· Personnel and human resource management

· Economic and neighborhood development

· Risk management

· Charter changes

The budget for the task force has been set at $300,000 to pay for consultant fees and the force itself, but details on the breakdown have not been released.

The task force is expected to present their findings to Akron City Council in February.