Last week there was hope when Geronimo, the pit bull terrier who had been at the Humane Society of Summit County Shelter for more than eleven hundred days, was adopted!

Unfortunately, and at no fault of the adopting family, Geronimo's forever home didn't last, and now he's back to the unforutnately familiar confines of the county.

Now, the Humane Society is making a plea for Geronimo to find his for real forever home, with a recent Facebook post detailing his needs (See below).

First time bus rider? Not sure where to start? 

Never fear, METRO RTA is here: 

See more now at METRORTA.org. 

UPDATE: The Portage County Sheriff's Office says Deputy Michael Bussinger is being treated at the burn unit at an Akron-area hospital, but there was not update on his condition yet this morning.

Meanwhile, 45-year-old Jay E. Brannon, the suspect who reportedly had a metal can filled with a flammable liquid that he lit and then tossed at Deputy Bussinger, has been charged with five counts of attempted aggravated murder and five counts of aggravated arson.

It happened while deputies were serving a warrant on Brannon at his apartment in Rootstown. According to the Beacon, Brannon was one of Portage County's Top 10 Most Wanted Fugitives.

(Jay E. Brannon - Portage County Jail) 

A deputy with the Portage County Sheriff was set on fire while serving a felony warrant Thursday night, according to a release from Sheriff David Doak.

Around 6:45, deputies arrived at the suspect's residence in the 3900 block of State Route 44. As the deputy approached the suspect, he threw a flammable liquid onto the deputy and then lit it on fire, burning the deputy and setting the building on fire.

The deputy was taken to the burn unit at an Akron hospital, and according to the Sheriff, other officers were treated for smoke inhalation.

The suspect was taken into custody. Sheriff Doak is expected to release more information today.

An Ohio State Highway Patrol Trooper and two others were injured, and the trooper's cruiser destroyed, when a commercial semi truck slammed into the vehicle that was parked along I-77 in Stark County Thursday.

The Patrol posted an update, and photo, to Facebook after the accident, reminding everyone that it is the law to move over when police or other emergency vechiles are parked with lights flashing along the side of state highways. 

The patrol says the trooper and others injured are expected to be OK.

Love is in the air for one of our favorite local mascots... Well, TWO of them... 

Tuesday afternoon a man walked into the PNC Bank at 181 Massillon Road, armed with a knife, demanding money. He jumped the counter and proceeded down the line of tellers, taking money from each of the cash drawers and stuffing it into a backpack he was wearing on his chest. 

After the robbery, the suspect got into a black Chevy Malibu and drove away from the bank. 

Not too long after the robbery, Akron Police Officers spotted the Malibu pulling into a parking lot in the 500 block of Sherman Street. That's when they arrested 22-year-old Darrion L. Powers (pictured) of Akron, who is now charged with armed robbery and more. 

Addiitonally, Police Detectives charged Powers in connection to the January 4th robbery of the Huntington Bank on South Arlington Street. Both robberies played out the same. 

Powers has been booked in the Summit County Jail, and according to Akron Police Lt. Rick Edwards' press release, he's likely responsible for several other robberies in Cuyahoga Falls. So far he's charged with two counts of aggravated robbery. 

(Akron Zoo) The Akron Zoo is sad to announce the passing of their male river otter, Porthos. Porthos went into cardiac arrest during a routine exam and passed away after CRP efforts were not able to revive him. From the results of the necropsy (an animal autopsy) and related analysis, it appears Porthos had a congenital condition that lead to his passing.

Porthos was a favorite among zoo guests. He would interact with guests when they slide down the otter slide which goes through the otter habitat. He was born on March 19, 2010 at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. He arrived at the Akron Zoo in 2013 from the Dayton Boonshoft Museum for the opening of the Mike & Mary Stark Grizzly Ridge. The median life expectancy for North American river otters is 12 years.

“We are heartbroken over the sudden loss of Porthos,” said Doug Piekarz, president & CEO at the Akron Zoo. “Porthos was a wonderful ambassador for his species and we will all miss him. Thank you to our veterinary care staff for their heroic efforts in this difficult situation.”

As an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), the Akron Zoo participates in the River Otter Species Survival Plan (SSP). The SSP works to ensure the long-term survival of North American river otters through breeding and population management programs. Thanks to local conservation efforts to clean up pollution in rivers and streams, North American river otters are listed as least concern in Ohio as the population has rebounded in the past two decades.

The zoo’s female otter, Molly, will remain in the river otter habitat daily. 

UPDATE: Multipe reports from news outlets are that both Skylar Williams and her alleged abductor Ty'rell Pounds are dead following a possible shootout with police in, or near Louisville, Kentucky on Tuesday. 

A recent Facebook post from Pounds indicates the two were in a relationship and having trouble, including a possible custody battle over their child. A portion reads, "Your mother kept me away from you and I was fighting for you through the court system..."

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A statewide manhunt is underway for Ty'rell Pounds, who police say abducted Skylar Williams from an OSU-Mansfield parking lot Monday morning, around 11:45.

News 5 says OSU's Department of Public Safety reported that Pounds stole a dark-colored 2019 Dodge Caravan at gunpoint around 2 p.m. That vehicle's license plate is FMZ-9621.

Anyone with any information on the whereabouts of Williams, Pounds, or the vehicle is asked to call the Mansfield Post of the Highway Patrol.

INDYCAR and Bridgestone Americas, Inc. (Bridgestone) today announced a five-year partnership extension for the Firestone brand to continue serving as the sole tire supplier and Official Tire of the NTT IndyCar® Series through 2025. The agreement, which includes continued rights for Firestone as the Official Tire of the Indianapolis 500®, furthers the brand’s storied history in open-wheel racing and its longstanding commitment to tire innovation.

In support of this extension, Bridgestone also announced plans to build a new, state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Akron, Ohio that will serve as the future home of Firestone race tire manufacturing. The Bridgestone Advanced Tire Production Center (ATPC) will be located across the street from the Bridgestone Americas Technical Center and less than a mile from the Bridgestone Advanced Technology Workshop, where race tires are currently produced. Plans for the ATPC include both new construction and the full renovation of an existing structure.

The news was shared at a special event in Indianapolis that included INDYCAR and Bridgestone leaders, racing legend Mario Andretti, and veteran INDYCAR driver and team owner Ed Carpenter. A second event also was held at the Bridgestone Americas Technical Center in Akron with two-time Indy 500 winner Al Unser Jr.

“Champions have relied on Firestone tires for more than a century, and racing has always been the ideal proving ground for new technologies that help us evolve and advance our company’s passenger tire offerings,” said Philip Dobbs, chief marketing officer, Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations. “As the NTT IndyCar Series continues gaining momentum, we are introducing new fans to the Firestone brand and strengthening our relationship with the drivers who use our durable, dependable Firestone tires.”

“Firestone has long been a great INDYCAR partner and is making a huge investment to the NTT IndyCar Series with its new facility in Akron,” INDYCAR president Jay Frye said. “This extension also reflects Firestone’s commitment to helping to shape INDYCAR’s paddock-wide, five-year plan.”

Firestone is entering its 20th consecutive season as the sole tire supplier of the NTT IndyCar Series. It will produce and deliver more than 26,000 Firehawk race tires to teams across the upcoming 2019 schedule, including more than 6,000 tires for track activities related to the Indianapolis 500 alone. The brand’s roots in the sport date back to 1911 when the inaugural Indianapolis 500 was won on Firestone tires. In all, “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” has been won on Firestone tires 69 times – more than double all other tire manufacturers combined.

“I started driving on Firestone tires 55 years ago, and they were on my car for the 1969 Indianapolis 500 when I took the checkered flag,” said Mario Andretti. “The trust I have always placed in Firestone was cemented that day 50 years ago when I drove on the same right rear tire for the whole race – and it never let me down. Firestone has always been a dependable partner, and I am excited to see its partnership with INDYCAR continue.”

The new ATPC will continue a legacy of tire manufacturing in Akron that began with the founding of the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company in 1900. A team of more than 50 expert tire builders and manufacturing professionals at the Advanced Technology Workshop currently keeps that tradition alive through the production of more than 60 unique race tire specifications for the NTT IndyCar Series season. All race tire manufacturing will move to the new facility over the next four years, and early plans are for the site to produce its first Firestone Firehawk race tires for testing in the NTT IndyCar Series by the end of 2020.

“The Akron community and race tire development have each played significant roles in our company’s past, and they will continue to drive innovation for us in the future,” said Nizar Trigui, chief technology officer, Bridgestone Americas. “We are proud to ensure that Firestone race tires will be built in Akron for many years to come, soon in a new facility that will be as cutting-edge as the tires it produces.”

In addition to providing tire technology and on-track support, Firestone will continue to be a key partner in the marketing and promotion of the NTT IndyCar Series. The brand’s comprehensive, season-long activation includes fan engagement, sponsorships and signage at multiple venues, robust social and digital media programs, traditional media, and hospitality.

The 2019 NTT IndyCar Series season kicks off March 10 with the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, which will be broadcast live on NBCSN at 1:00 PM ET. Firestone also recently announced it will serve as title sponsor of the season-ending Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey at WeatherTech® Raceway Laguna Seca, which will be broadcast live on NBC on September 22 at 2:30 PM ET.

Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan has announced changes to the process for recruiting police, fire, and EMS, including an increase in the maximum age for new hires.

As of Monday, the maximum age to be hired as a police officer is up from 35 to 40, while the max age to be hired as a firefighters is now 35, up from 31. Also on Monday, thanks to funding from Issue 4, the Akron Police Department is able to host an in-house police academy, opposed to farming out the academy to other departments, including Columbus, as they've done since 2008.

The minimum wage for new recruits has gone up to $26.22 per hour, according to the press release (read below), thus making the job more attractive to young and older cadets. 

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Akron, Ohio, February 4, 2019 – Today, Mayor Horrigan is announcing several changes to the process for recruiting police officers and firefighter/medics, including increasing the maximum age for new hires and bringing the police academy back in-house.

“As a city, we are competing for qualified candidates for public safety positions, and I am committed to attracting and retaining the most qualified, diverse, and dedicated personnel to Akron,” Mayor Horrigan said. “These changes are designed to widen and deepen the pool of potential candidates and make the process more accessible.”

First, the Department of Human Resources will be increasing the maximum hiring age for an Akron police officer to 40 years of age (from 35), and the maximum hiring age for an Akron firefighter/medic to 35 years of age (from 31). 

“Expanding the age range for qualified candidates will help us recruit individuals who may be pursuing a second career or who have recently retired from the military,” Akron Police Chief Ken Ball said. “More mature applicants are likely to have an increased sense of purpose, greater life experiences and deeper community ties that can help them succeed in serving our neighborhoods.”

In addition to expanding eligibility, the City will once again be hosting a Peace Officer Basic Training Academy for new police recruits. 

Due to funding restraints, the City stopped holding an internal police academy in 2008.   Instead, for several years the City sent new recruits to Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission (OPOTC) academies hosted by other agencies. New recruits would not be formally hired or receive a paycheck from the City until after they graduated with their OPOTA certification (approximately 24 weeks). The financial burden of this unpaid training period discouraged or prevented some recruits from pursuing a career as an Akron police officer.

“We knew that a lack of an internal police academy was negatively impacting our ability to recruit qualified, diverse candidates,” Mayor Horrigan said. “We knew we had to do something. Thankfully, the funds provided by Issue 4 will help us once again host a police academy and compensate our new recruits appropriately.” Now, new APD recruits will be hired by the City and paid a starting wage of $26.22/hour from the first day of the training academy. 

The next entrance exam for Akron police officers is slated for April 2019.  The next entrance exam for Akron firefighters will likely be held this fall. 

“Making these changes demonstrates that we are serious about building public safety forces that better reflect the diversity of our community,” Council President Margo Sommerville said.  “I look forward to working with the administration to continue to improve our recruiting strategies and policies to compete for the best candidates available.”