Report: More Than 16 Percent Of Ohioans Struggle To Afford Food
A new report out shows that Ohio's food insecurity rate hasn't changed much.
The latest Map the Meal Gap report by Feeding America took a look at the number of Ohioans who are struggling to afford food. The state's rate in 2014 stands at 16.8 percent, which is down just one-tenth of a percent from 2013.
In Summit County, the food insecurity rate stands at 16.2 -- where more than 87-thousand people don’t always have access to safe and nutritious food. According to the Akron-Canton Foodbank, more than 22 pecent of children in Summit County are food insecure.
The most food insecure county in the state is Athens County at just under 20 percent.
Ohio's food insecurity rate is about one percent above the national average.
20 Pounds Of Suspected Pot Brownies In Brunswick
Medina County Drug Task Force agents and Brunswick police uncovered more than 20 pounds of brownies, possibly laced with marijuana, inside a Stoneybrook Lane apartment late Friday evening.
Police say they were executing a search warrant where they found the suspected pot brownies and several ounces of suspected THC extract.
James Hirsch, 45, was arrested and charged with trafficking in marijuana.
A 17-year-old was also found in the apartment, but no charges were filed against the teen who was released to her parents.
Woman Pleads Guilty To Sending Explicit Photos To Daughter's Ex-Boyfriend
A Lakemore woman has pleaded guilty to sending sexually explicit photos and videos to her daughter's 14-year-old ex-boyfriend.
Dodi Wade, 47, of Lakeside Drive, admitted to sending the graphic content. Summit County prosecutors say in one of the videos, Wade propositioned the teen for sex. She also asked for pictures of the teen in return.
Wade pleaded guilty to four counts of disseminating matter harmful to juveniles and importuning.
As part of a plea agreement, Wade will have to register as a Tier I sex offender. Her sentencing is scheduled for late May.
Teacher Accused Of Dragging, Taping Child's Mouth Shut
A Coventry Township teacher at an early learning and childcare facility is facing charges of child endangering and was fired from her job after reports of misconduct.
Summit County Sheriff's deputies said another teacher at Little Steps Big Dreams Academy reported that she witnessed the misconduct and alerted school officials.
Deputies said an investigation revealed that 22-year-old Keira Davis of Akron was involved in three separate incidents during the kids' nap time where she dragged a child by an ankle, another was held down on a mat, and another child had her mouth taped shut and suffered minor injuries. All three victims are 3-years-old.
The incidents happened between April 8th and 11th.
Davis was arrested and charged with 3 counts of child endangering.
VIDEO Smithsonian Traveling Exhibit Features C. Falls 'Dam Cam'
A little piece of Cuyahoga Falls will be part of a traveling Smithsonian exhibit.
Mayor Don Walters says the three-minute, time-lapse video of the removal of the two dams on the Cuyahoga River will be featured in the exhibit.
The exhibition opens in five states this year starting in May.
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(News Release - Cuyahoga Falls)Mayor Don Walters is pleased to announce that the removal of two dams on the Cuyahoga River in the City of Cuyahoga Falls will be featured in an upcoming Smithsonian Institution traveling exhibit. The "Dam Cam" video features a three-minute time lapse of the removal of two dams in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio.
The Smithsonian Institution exhibit, titled "Water/Ways," is a Museum on Main Street Project which engages local audiences by bringing quality exhibitions to their local museums, historical societies, and other area venues. One story within this traveling exhibit will feature the Cuyahoga River and its restoration journey.
"The City of Cuyahoga Falls is extremely excited that the Cuyahoga River dam removal video will be part of the Smithsonian Water/Ways Project," stated Cuyahoga Falls Mayor Don Walters.
"We are proud of this valuable resource that is creating a cleaner environment for generations to The dams, known as the Sheraton Mill Dam and the LeFever Powerhouse Dam, were removed in July and August of 2013 to improve fish passage, water quality, and overall river health and function. Funding for the dam removal projects was provided by the Ohio EPA through the Division of Environmental and Financial Assistance under the Water Resource Restoration
Sponsor Program (WRRSP).
The Smithsonian exhibition opens in five states this year starting in May and is planned to travel through 2022. To see the video, visit the City of Cuyahoga Falls YouTube page at https://youtu.be/EdrClOtpKq0. For more information on the "Water/Ways" exhibit, go to http://www.museumonmainstreet.org/water.
Remembering Zak Husein: Helping Others In Need
Hundreds of students, family, friends, and faculty came together at the University of Akron to honor one of their own -- the best way they know possible.
Helping others in need.
It was a packed ballroom in the third floor of the student union for a charity event to package 40,000 meals for those in need in honor of Zak Husein who was killed during a robbery at his family's pizza shop last December.
"Today is not a day to weep, it's a day to celebrate Zak and his legacy," said UA President Scott Scarborough. "Today is Zak's triumph."
The volunteers gathered to package the meals through the Stop Hunger Now program after collecting more than $10,000 in donations.
"I've never seen so much energy, passion and support of one person in my life," said Shaun Starkey, assistant program manager for Stop Hunger Now. "People are shoulder to shoulder, united for the life of this one individual. It's pretty phenomenal."
Zak's brother, Ammar, was among those in attendance to honor His late brother's life and leave a lasting impact on the community and beyond.
"I can tell you Zak's characteristics, his mentality, his hospitality, his actions, they're not by accident," said Ammar.
Hundreds at @uakron to package 40,000 meals for those in need to honor UA student Zak Husein. pic.twitter.com/BH0gkVD9S0
— Amani Abraham (@AmaniAbraham) April 19, 2016
Akron City Councilman Jeff Fusco presented Ammar with a proclamation to honor Zak's life and legacy he left behind.
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Charity Event To Honor Zak Husein
Summa Unveils $350 Million Improvement Plan
Big changes are coming to Akron City Hospital and local facilities. Summa Health is planning to spend up to $350 million over the next few years.
President and CEO Tom Malone unveiled the plans Tuesday morning which includes a six-floor, 300-thousand square foot tower at Akron City Hospital that will house patients and include improved facilities.
"Really, what we're trying to do is come up with a team-based model of care that is multi-disciplinary with the patient at the center of everything we do," said Malone.
Among the other projects in the first phase is the addition of a $50,000 square-foot medical office building on Market Street.
"The whole point is if you come in, nowadays with more than one problem, rather than you the patient having to go to multiple locations, we will have the physicians come to you," said Malone.
The new inpatient facility and office building are part of the first phase of the project which is expected to take place over the next five years.
Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan talked about the significance of master plan investment worth more than $350 million.
"Sometimes we toss around numbers, sometimes big numbers like they're pennies, but let's not get lost in the fact that it's a quarter of a billion dollars being invested in our community," said Horrigan.
Hospital officials said 80 percent of the hospital rooms will be private rooms by the end of the improvement project.
The improvement plans also includes "modernizing various portions of Summa Barberton Hospital."
To learn more about the improvement plans, click here.
Tallmadge Man Charged In Fatal Easter Crash
A Tallmadge man is facing charges in a car crash that killed a 17-year-old Akron girl on Easter morning.
Police believe 63-year-old Charles Queer Jr. was driving drunk when he rear-ended Patricia Powell's car that was stopped on the shoulder at I-76 near the South Arlington Street exit in Akron.
Police said Powell was having car troubles and pulled over to the side of the road with her emergency flashers on.
Authorities said Queer was intoxicated at the time of the crash, over two times the legal limit.
Queer has been charged with aggravated vehicular homicide, failure to control, OVI and OVI-BAC.
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Akron, Cleveland Among Laziest Cities?
Just how lazy are you?
Well, it turns out Ohioans are among the laziest. That's according to career website Zippia.com.
Dayton is at the top of the list with Toledo following directly behind, and Cleveland and Akron coming in at sixth and seventh place.
The survey took a look at things like the shortest commute time, unemployment rates, fewest workers per household and the fewest adults with a college degree. Those were the only factors identified by the survey.
As with any list you may come across, there can be some variables that turn up missing -- like the percentage of those over the age of 65 in each city.
On the web: www.zippia.com
Mother, Grandmother Charged In Teen's Death
The mother and grandmother of the 16-year-old boy who was found dead inside a hotel room in Green are facing charges in the teen's suspected heroin overdose death.
Summit County Sheriff Steve Barry says Andrew Frye's mother, Heather Frye, and grandmother, Brenda Frye, are each facing an involuntary manslaughter charge.
Heather's son, Andrew, was found dead in the Super 8 hotel room Wednesday night. Preliminary results show that the 16-year-old had heroin in his system, although further tests are needed for confirmation to see if fentanyl also played a role.
Andrew, his mother, and his mother's friend, Jessica Irons, were staying the night at the hotel. Deputies say Andrew's mother told police she wanted to be "the fun weekend mom."
Irons is also facing a pair of charges including tampering with evidence and possesion of drugs. Another person has also been charged with possession of drugs.
Heather is also charged with child endangering and tampering with evidence and Brenda is also facing corruption and trafficking in drugs charges.
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