Displaying items by tag: Akron Children's Hospital

:19 - The shooting of a kosher store in Jersey City left a wake of destruction, which involved several deaths, including a police officer. Ray and Tony talked about this particular shooting, and how antisemitism seems to be on the rise.

6:52 - Continuing with the topic of hate crimes, SACS Consulting president and CEO Tim Dimoff delved into the world of online radicalization, which is increasingly popular among youth culture.

17:04 - Odell Beckham Jr. apparently has a sports hernia, and has dealt with it since at least training camp. Dr. Joe Congeni from Akron Children’s Hospital touched on what exactly a sports hernia is and how to treat it.

Be sure to follow us on our various social media platforms. Facebook: 1590WAKRakron Instagram: @1590WAKR Twitter: @1590WAKR, @Rayinthemorning, @TonyMazur

:19 - For folks flying in and out of the area, the days of the airports just being sterile hallways with some chairs and coffee are going away. Now, airports have slick WiFi access and much better options for food, as the morning show panel discussed.

6:07 - Whether you are shopping on Black Friday, Cyber Monday, or Giving Tuesday, News 5’s Jonathan Walsh has you covered when it comes to consumer goods and the state of shopping malls and big-box stores.

14;25 - Going into the Michigan game, the Ohio State Buckeyes are number one in the AP Top 25 college football poll. WAKR’s Kris Drew broke down the Buckeyes, who, according to him, are playing their best football.

18:10 - We have Dr. Joe Congeni from Akron Children’s Hospital each week to talk about sports medicine, but what exactly does one do in the sports medicine field? Dr. Joe talked about the growing position of sports psychology and how it applies for kids and teens.

Be sure to follow us on our various social media platforms. Facebook: 1590WAKRakron Instagram: @1590WAKR Twitter: @1590WAKR, @Rayinthemorning, @TonyMazur

:19 - We’re about a month away from Christmas (if you can believe that), but shipping gifts will have to be sent much early than that. Matt Aloisi is with the UPS Store in Stow, and he shared some shipping tips for those sending and receiving presents before Christmas begins.

7:37 - Are athletes overpaid? And if so, can one say the same about actors and actresses, as well?

15:47 - November is Bladder Health Month, and as we all know, the bladder should not be ignored. Dr. Rena Malek is with the University of Maryland School of Medicine, and she informed the listeners of some warning signs about poor bladder health.

18:43 - Tua Tagovailoa is out for the season with a dislocated hip, among other injuries. Dr. Joe Congeni from Akron Children’s Hospital deals with sports medicine, and he talked about the injury to the Alabama quarterback.

Be sure to follow us on our various social media platforms. Facebook: 1590WAKRakron Instagram: @1590WAKR Twitter: @1590WAKR, @Rayinthemorning, @TonyMazur

Davonna Reed, 32,  of Springfield Township has been arrested, charged with felony child endangering and obstructing justice.

Late last month, Reed brought her to three-month-old daughter to Akron Children's Hospital with an illness. It was later determined that the baby had a blood alcohol content of .359 percent.

After a stay in the neonatal intensive care unit, the child was released to the care of the Summit County Children Services.

 

Over the course of the investigation, Springfield Township Police detectives determined that Reed endangered her baby by allowing her to drink alcohol and then lied to investigators about it. 

Reed, meanwhile, has been booked and is being held in Summit County Jail. The investigation, meanwhile, is ongoing. 

(AKRON CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL) Beginning this week, Akron Children’s will offer flu vaccines in a dozen school districts, making it easier and more convenient than ever to get children immunized. 

“The best way to minimize or avoid the spread of influenza is to get an annual flu vaccine,” said Michele Wilmoth, director of School Health Services for Akron Children’s. “The vaccine protects against the new strains of the flu so it's important to get vaccinated annually.”

Akron Children’s partners with an organization called Health Heroes to provide the flu vaccine to all children whose parents consent to it, regardless or their health care coverage.

Flu vaccines are provided at no cost to students, parents, schools or local/state government. Medicaid and private insurers will be billed, however, students or their parents will never be billed for out-of-pocket expenses or deductibles. Qualifying uninsured students can be given the vaccine at no charge.

The participating schools and school districts are:
 

• Akron Public Schools
• Akros Middle School/Edge Academy
• Cuyahoga Falls City School District
• East Palestine City Schools
• Medina City Schools
• Nordonia Hills City School District
• Schnee Learning Center
• Stow-Munroe Falls City Schools
• Tallmadge City School District
• Warren City Schools
• Woodridge Local Schools
• Windham Exempted Village Schools

“This is a win-win for everyone,” said Wilmoth. “We can save parents a trip to the doctor and keep kids in class. If we get more kids immunized, we can reduce the risk of influenza in our schools and communities and we can especially reduce the risk for our more vulnerable children, such as those with chronic health conditions.”

The process of giving the flu shots should be as easy and orderly as each school’s student picture day, says Wilmoth.

The vaccinations will be administered by state-licensed nurses.

Health Heroes takes care of collecting consent forms and will bill private insurance carriers and Medicaid for the cost of the vaccine. The organization’s business model allows it to absorb the cost of vaccines for uninsured children. Teachers and school staff will also be offered the vaccine. 

:19 - The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nominees for 2020 have been released. Nine out of the 16 nominees are on their first year on the ballot: Pat Benatar, Dave Matthews Band, Depeche Mode, Doobie Brothers, Whitney Houston, Judas Priest, Kraftwerk, MC5, Motorhead, Nine Inch Nails, Notorious B.I.G., Rufus & Chaka Khan, Todd Rundgren, Soundgarden, T. Rex, and Thin Lizzy.

6:17 - We’re coming upon the 30-year anniversary of the disappearance and death of Amy Mihaljevic from a shopping center in Bay Village. The author and podcaster who has been all over this case has been James Renner, and he stopped by to talk about the Amy case and discussed the Porchlight Project, which has helped solve these crimes with better forensic data.

16:49 - Bill Considine is the CEO emeritus at Akron Children’s Hospital, and he was recently honored by his employer for his work in over four decades with the hospital. He talked about his career and promoted his book, which is in the works.

Be sure to follow us on our various social media platforms. Facebook: 1590WAKRakron Instagram: @1590WAKR Twitter: @1590WAKR, @Rayinthemorning, @TonyMazur

:19 - Two days removed from the deadly massacre in Dayton, the facts about both that case and in El Paso are starting to flow out. In Dayton, the shooter was shot and killed within 30 seconds. How can a police force train for active shooters? Akron police chief Ken Ball explained this morning.

10:04 - How does a parent explain to his/her child about these shootings, in schools or elsewhere? Dr. Laura Markley from Akron Children’s Hospital shared some tips.

14:35 - The Indians lost 1-0 to the Texas Rangers last night, and they have a big series against their AL Central foe in the Minnesota Twins this weekend. Tribe VP Bob DiBiasio talked about last night’s game, and answered listener questions about Bradley Zimmer and athlete endorsements.

20:15 - Would you date someone with poor hygiene? A lot of single people will skip the second date due to that.

Be sure to follow us on our various social media platforms. Facebook: 1590WAKRakron Instagram: @1590WAKR Twitter: @1590WAKR, @Rayinthemorning, @TonyMazur

:17 - The Joe Biden phenomenon, or lack thereof, seems to have died down, even though if he ran for president, he’d be the frontrunner as of April 2019. The panel talked about how Biden’s allure may have faded, either due to his touchy-feely displays of affection or him being "too safe" a candidate for the Left.

8:09 - The Indians’ offensive struggles continues, and just how much solid ground is the pitching staff standing on? Tribe broadcaster Jim Rosenhaus joined the show to discuss the state of the team.

13:39 - The Dru Joyce Classic is happening on Saturday, featuring teams from all over the planet coming to Akron. The man behind the tournament, Dru Joyce himself, joined the program to promote the festivities.

19:50 - One of the most common injuries with younger athletes are stress fractures. Akron Children’s Hospital’s Dr. Joe Congeni has seen his share of them over the decades, and he stopped by to break down the breakdowns.

The 13^th Annual Firefighters’ Chili Challenge, sponsored by the City of Akron, will take place inside the Lock 3 dining area on Friday, January 18^th from 11AM until 1PM (or earlier, if the chili runs out)!

Each year, Akron firefighters issue the challenge to see who can create the best chili, served to Downtown employees and visitors. Some chili variations are traditional, while other teams set themselves apart with distinct flavors and ingredients. Tickets for six samples of chili and a beverage are $10. Individual chili samples are available for $1.50.  Beverages are also available for $2. All proceeds benefit Akron Children’s Hospital Burn Institute.

“I look forward to the Chili Challenge every year and tasting the newest flavor combinations and tried and true traditional recipes cooked up by our various competitors,” Mayor Horrigan said. “I encourage everyone to come to Lock 3, enjoy some delicious home-cooked food, and join in the friendly competition in support of Akron Children’s Hospital. May the best chili win!”

The 2019 competitors include the Akron Fire Department, The Akron Police Department, the City of Akron Human Resources Department, ARCADIS, Cleveland Clinic Akron General Hospital and the City of Akron Office of Integrated Development.  Teams will be competing for Judge’s Choice and People’s Choice, and the Joe Smith Spirit Award. The Joe Smith Spirit Award was created in honor of Detective Joe Smith, an active supporter and participant in previous chili challenges, who passed away in 2014.

:17 - Are the days of the movie house over? Or what about the movie star, the blockbuster films that aren’t of the action variety? The morning show panel dug into this topic early this morning.

12:08 - Canal Park is home to not only the Akron RubberDucks, but the best turf in the state of Ohio. Head groundskeeper Chris Walsh joined the show to discuss their process of maintaining such fine grass.

19:58 - Reverend Jeff Kaiser called in to talk about the Haven of Rest during the holiday season.

25:52 - As always on Wednesdays, Dr. Joe Congeni comes on the program to discuss sports medicine. The Cavaliers are without Tristan Thompson for an extended period, and Dr. Joe talked about what thoracic outlet syndrome is.

33:25 - Chris Eck is from FirstEnergy, and he stopped by our studios to talk about energy usage this time of year, with all the Christmas lights and displays happening.

:17 - The Ohio State Buckeyes sit at six in the AP Top 25, which makes them on the outside looking in for the college football playoff. Ray thinks the Bucks have a case for the playoff, while Tony believes their loss to Purdue and narrow win over Maryland may have cost them

10:49 - We’re a year and a half from the 50th anniversary of the Kent State shootings, and the folks there want to preserve the memory. Dr. Mindy Farmer from Kent State talked about the Ohio History Connection award the school won in commemoration of the event.

15:31 - My, how things have changed in high school athletics. An offseason once meant an off season, but there are no off days in this world. Dr. Joe Congeni from Akron Children’s Hospital discussed the weight training schools are doing throughout the winter to prepare for sports like track, baseball, and even football.

21:07 - Could the Indians part ways with Trevor Bauer? How about Corey Kluber or Carlos Carrasco? While the window is still open, they may need to, as mentioned here by Ray and Tony.

28:05 - At 10 AM on Saturday, the Joe Siegferth Basketball Classic is happening over at Firestone CLC. Ron Linger, Akron Public Schools’ assistant athletic director, went over the bulk of the games.

:17 - Is Black Friday shopping not what it used to be? Are you shopping for yourself or others? Are you looking forward to Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday? WEWS News 5 consumer reporter Jonathan Walsh has you covered, from the big box stores to online shopping to gift cards.

11:55 - Rick McQueen will be stepping down as president and CEO of the Akron-Canton Airport at the end of the year, but he’ll have a busy final month. He took a few minutes of his time to talk with Ray about egress in and out of the airport.

16:02 - If you are doing some shopping and are an Indians fan, the team has some new threads for the 2019 season. Bob DiBiasio from the Tribe talked about the slight change in their uniforms.

24:09 - Having a few too many adult beverages Thanksgiving Eve? Arrive Alive has you covered. Summit County prosecutor Sherri Bevan Walsh called in to promote Arrive Alive, which is a program that sends a cab and takes one home for free (up to $65) around Summit County beginning at 6 PM.

30:14 - In her final in-studio appearance until April, our master gardener Jeanne Poremski stopped by to chat about indoor plants, especially ones used as gifts like the Christmas cacti.

38:13 - Dr. Joe Congeni from Akron Children’s Hospital checks in to discuss some gruesome injuries in sports. Redskins QB Alex Smith went down with a brutal injury 33 years to the day Joe Theismann had a very similar break.

43:17 - And finally, our movie guy and WQMX morning man Scott Wynn talked with Tony about what’s at the theaters this weekend. The big movies that will top the box office are Creed II and the animated Ralph Breaks the Internet.

:17 - Remember, if you aren’t fully digital at home, this is the weekend we “fall back” with the time change. The panel opened Friday’s show talking about sleep, or lack thereof, and how they’re able to cope with their schedules.

10:52 - Akron Children’s Hospital has had Bill Considine in charge for 40 years, but that all changed this week. Grace Wakulchik is the new president and CEO at the hospital, and she talked to Ray about being prepared for the transition.

15:25 - Tammy Pescatelli got her start in standup at Hilarities Comedy Club in Cuyahoga Falls. Well, Hilarities has now become the Funny Stop, but she hasn’t forgotten her roots. She’s performing there this weekend, and being a Northeast Ohioan, she shared her thoughts on the Cleveland Browns.

22:20 - The world of comic books makes its way to Goodyear Hall this weekend. Michael Savene from the Akron Comicon joined Ray to give comic book enthusiasts some great access to the creators and exhibits.

25:50 - With Christmas around the corner and folks going shopping soon, our golf pro Dan Dauk talked about new clubs and equipment, especially for seniors hitting the links.

32:35 - Time to head to the front row with WQMX’s Scott Wynn. The big movie released this weekend is Bohemian Rhapsody, the new biopic on Freddie Mercury and Queen.

:17 - Bill Considine has been the head of Akron Children’s Hospital for 40 years, and though he’ll keep an emeritus title, he is stepping down. He talked to Ray about his time as CEO and the legacy he’ll leave behind, keeping it in good hands for Grace Wakulchik (who’ll join us tomorrow).

12:02 - A week before the election, the topic of birthright citizenship has been a divisive one, especially with the caravan headed towards the US border. Immigration attorney Farhad Sethna calls in to talk about the executive branch’s role here and how the laws could or could not be changed.

23:07 - Remember to “fall back” this weekend, as we turn our clocks back and get an extra hour of sleep. For many, the time change doesn’t affect us, but others have a real problem adjusting. Dr. Rajesh Tampi from Akron General talks about seasonal depression and how to properly cope.

30:31 - This podcast was recorded on November 1st. If you live in Akron, there are not only still leaves on the trees, but many are still green! Our master gardener Jeanne Poremski gave us a little insight and even took some phone questions.

:30 - If there’s an open storefront in a shopping plaza, it’ll probably be a Halloween store come October. Ray kicks off the show talking about Halloween costumes and what the panel’s favorites were over the years. Tony brings up the point about how Halloween has become the New Year’s for Millennials as far as parties go.

11:11 - Yesterday, Ray chatted with Tony Gotto, head coach of the Barberton Magics about their matchup versus Ellet. The Orangemen head coach Chuck Shuman gave his thoughts on Friday’s big game.

15:19 - Each Wednesday, Dr. Joe Congeni from Akron Children’s Hospital stops by to discuss sports medicine. A hot topic these days has been concussions in football, but what about soccer? How about the other sports?

26:39 - The Western Reserve Playhouse continues to thrive, and for the next few weekends, Little Women will be on stage. Dawn Yamokoski and her crew were in studio to give us a taste of the production.

AKRON, Ohio – On Friday, Aug. 24, the Akron Zoo revealed the names for its new babies. Earlier this month, the zoo asked the public to help choose names for the Humboldt penguin chick and Siberian musk deer fawn during its “Oh Deer! Waddle We Name Them?” naming contest, sponsored by Akron Children’s Hospital.

 

The male penguin chick will be named Rico, which means “brave ruler” in Spanish. The female musk deer fawn’s name is Alina (a-lee-nah), which means “beautiful” in Russian.

 

Rico, the penguin chick, hatched on June 1, and Alina, the musk deer fawn, was born on June 13. Both babies have made their public debut and are now in their respective habitats daily.

The Akron Zoo is open 361 days a year. Hours are 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and admission is $12 for adults, $10 for senior citizens, $9 for children (ages 2-14). Children under two are free and parking is $3. For more information visit www.akronzoo.org or call (330) 375-2550.

Founded in 1953, the Akron Zoo is a non-profit, world conservation zoo with over 700 animals from around the world. Located just west of Downtown Akron, the zoo strives to connect your life to wildlife while inspiring lifelong learning and conservation action. The Akron Zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). With its more than 200 accredited members, AZA is a leader in global wildlife conservation, and your link to helping animals in their native habitats.

(Akron Police Department) At 9 am on July 10th, W. Bowery Street will be closed to all through traffic, between W. Center Street and Water Street, as Cavanaugh Building Company, EDG and Akron Children’s Hospital begin work on a storm sewer connection. 

Eastbound traffic from W. Center St. and W. Bowery St. will be detoured using W. Bowery St., W. State St. and S. Main St. Westbound traffic will be detoured using S. High St. and W. State St. 

This work is expected to be complete by Friday, July 27th. 

Drivers are urged to use caution as other construction projects are currently underway in the immediate area.

It's right around the corner, and with the forecast calling for some steamy weather, the Akron Marathon will be ready to roll on Saturday.

Akron Marathon Course Committee Co-Chairman and Board member Bret Treier joined Sam and Brad in studio to talk about this year's race including some of the changes coming to the course due to construction. 

"The thing we're most excited about this year is we're going back to Firestone Park," Treier said. "We had the race there traditionally, a couple years ago we did to not go down south to Firestone Park due to heavy construction on Brown and Main both."

 The race is in it's 15th year, and is sponsored by Akron Children's Hospital and FirstEnergy.

For more information on Saturday's race, click here. 

 

Akron Police say it wasn't a one-time incident of child abuse that lead to the arrest of Melijah Isiah Lacy, 21, of Sheridan Avenue in Akron. 

Back on June 24th, Lacy's three-month-old child was taken to the doctor for a routine check up. The child was immediately taken to Akron Children's Hospital where staff found a brain bleed and multiple fractured ribs. They determined that the injuries were consistent with the baby being shaken on more than one occassion. 

A subsequent investigation lead police to the child's father, Lacy. He was arrested Tuesday morning on felony child endangering charges and was scheduled to be booked in Summit County Jail. 

The baby was placed in custody of Summit County Children's Services. 

The WGC-Bridgestone Invitational is a global event that truly highlights Akron's Firestone Country Club and in turn the entire Northeast Ohio area. 

While it's obviously about the sport of golf, there is a much more important effect that is felt among northeast Ohio's non-profit organizations. 

During a luncheon at the Bridgestone Akron Technical Center Thursday, a check for more than $1 Million was presented and diviied up between 38 local non-profits, including Akron Children's Hospital, University Hospitals, the LeBron James Family Foundation, the Humane Society of Summit County, and more. 

Of the donation, Bridgestone Invitational Executive Director Don Padgett III they reason they do it was on display during Thursday's luncheon: "Over a million dollars going back to Northeast Ohio (and) the fantastic causes that we celebrate here today." Padgett says that more than $26 million has been raised for local non-profits since 1984. 

Also, for the 7th straight year, Bridgestone Invitational has named a local recipient of the $5,000 "surprise grant." This year's grant goes to Pregnancy Solutions Services in Akron. 

See the full press release recapping the grant presentation and highlighting the 2017 Bridgestone Invitational that runs August 2nd through August 6th below: 

AKRON, Ohio – The World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational and Northern Ohio Golf Charities today announced the donation of $1 million in charitable funds to Northeast Ohio organizations in connection with the 2016 tournament. The announcement was made at the annual Bridgestone Invitational, Northern Ohio Golf Charities luncheon held at the Bridgestone Americas Technical Center in Akron.

Representatives from Bridgestone Americas, Inc., the PGA TOUR and Northern Ohio Golf Charities attended the luncheon to celebrate the tournament’s charitable mission and announce the donation recipients. The luncheon was emceed by Chris Tye, news anchor and reporter for WKYC, Channel 3.

Thirty-eight charities throughout the region benefitted from the $1,015,981 total raised including the tournament’s two signature charities, Akron Children’s Hospital and UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital.

“The World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational is a special event for this community and the region,” said Rick Burke, President, Executive Committee, Northern Ohio Golf Charities. “It is a world class golf event that generates economic development for the area but more importantly, it enables Northern Ohio Golf Charities to distribute in excess of one million dollars each year to support so many worthy and necessary charitable causes. The tournament has provided Northern Golf Charities the unique opportunity to enhance the lives of so many in our community and we are immensely grateful to our partners Bridgestone, the PGA TOUR and Firestone Country Club for providing our organization a platform to achieve our charitable mission.”

Charities recognized at the luncheon included: Akron Children’s Hospital and University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital, the LeBron James Family Foundation, The First Tee Chapters of Akron, Canton and Cleveland, Akron Children’s Museum, Akron General Foundation, Embracing Futures, Inc., Summa Foundation and the Humane Society of Summit County. (Please see attached document for a full listing of grant recipients.)

For the seventh year, Bridgestone Americas, Inc., funded an additional $5,000 contribution to a charitable organization. The 2017 Bridgestone Award was presented to Pregnancy Solutions & Services.

“Bridgestone is a global company with global responsibilities, but we understand the importance of supporting and improving the local communities in which we live, work and play,” said Gordon Knapp, CEO & President, Bridgestone Americas, Inc. “It’s an honor to partner once again with Northern Ohio Golf Charities on the Bridgestone Award, which this year we’re proud to present to Pregnancy Solutions & Services.”

Northern Ohio Golf Charities Foundation is part of a volunteer organization that has partnered with professional golf tournaments at Firestone Country Club for more than 50 years. During this time, the tournaments have provided more than $26 million to local charities seeking to improve the quality of life in Northeast Ohio.

“Bridgestone and Northern Ohio Golf Charities are phenomenal partners that enable the Bridgestone Invitational to give back to worthy local causes ,” said Don Padgett, Executive Director of the Bridgestone Invitational. “This event has a meaningful impact on the area all year long and we have our fans, area businesses and volunteers to thank for their support.”

Among the guests at the luncheon were: Gordon Knapp, CEO, Bridgestone Americas Inc.; Don Padgett III, Executive Director, Bridgestone Invitational, and Rick Burke, President, Northern Ohio Golf Charities Foundation, Inc.

Not-for-profit, 501 (c)(3) organizations can receive funds generated in conjunction with the 2017 Bridgestone Invitational by submitting a grant request to Northern Ohio Golf Charities. Further details can be found at www.nogcf.org.

Tickets to the 2017 Bridgestone Invitational can be purchased by visiting www.worldgolfchampionships.com or calling 330-644-2299.

The following non-profits split the more than $1M from the 2016 Bridgestone Invitational: 

1. 91.3 The Summit 2. Akron Children's Foundation 3. Akron Children's Museum 4. Akron General Foundation (Edwin Shaw Golf) 5. Barberton Area Community Ministries 6. Blessings in a Backpack 7. Cleveland Kids Book Bank 8. East Akron Neighborhood Development 9. Embracing Futures, Inc. 10. Emerald Development & Economic Network 11. Family Promise of Greater Cleveland 12. Flashes of Hope 13. Forever Amber Acres Animal Sanctuary 14. Greater Cleveland Habitat for Humanity 15. Hiram Farm Living Learning Community 16. Humane Society of Summit County 17. Humility of Mary Housing 18. Interval Brotherhood Home 19. LeBron James Family Foundation 20. Lift Up Ministries 21. Pregnancy Solutions & Services, Inc. 22. RABAB Ministries, The Well Akron 23. Regina Health Center 24. Ronald McDonald House of Akron 25. Ronald McDonald House of Cleveland 26. Rotary Camp for Children with Special Needs 27. Stewart's Caring Place 28. Summa Foundation 29. Summit Choral Society 30. Summit Metro Parks 31. The First Tee of Akron 32. The First Tee of Canton 33. The First Tee of Cleveland 34. True Freedom, Inc. 35. Truly Reaching You 36. United Disability Services, Inc. 37. UH Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital 38. Urban Vision

Less than one week after a 19-month-old Akron boy overdosed on opioids in his home, and then eventually died as a result, Akron Police are investigating another child overdose. 

The latest happened Tuesday night. Akron Police Lt. Rick Edwards says officers responded to Akron Children's Hospital where the boy was taken by his mother. He was given NARCAN at the hospital and revived. Last check he was in stable condiiton at the hospital. 

Lt. Edwards says the boy's mother told them she left her son with her 5-year-old and 7-year-old daughters outside for just a moment. When she came back outside, the mother noticed her son was stumbling and acting funny. It was when the boy started going in and out of consciousness that she drove him to Akron Children's ER. 

No charges have been filed in the case, but while the investigation is ongoing, all three children have been placed in the custody of Summit County Children's Services. Lt. Edwards tells 1590 WAKR that this is a safety precaution as the investigation continues. 

North High School's Academy of Health and Human Services got a big boost from Akron Children's Hospital this week.

The hospital pledged $400,000 to the Akron Public Schools. $250,000 of that will go to the health care academy, while the other $150,000 will come in the form of internships, teacher externships, and other experiential learning opportunities.

Children's Hospital President and CEO Bill Considine joined Jasen to talk about the donation and the business community's thoughts on the career academy model being rolled out at North.

Summit County Health officials say there may have been exposure to TB at a hospital here in Akron. About 50 families are being notified by Akron Children's Hospital for potential exposure at the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Summa Akron City Hospital from mid-November through mid-December of last year. The Summit County Health Department says NICU patients at Akron Children's Hospital were not at risk of exposure. Doctors want to reach out to those potentially exposed since tuberculosis can be more serious in children, and treat them with proactive antibiotics.

In a press conference at the Summit County Public Health building Friday morning, Dr. Margo Erme, Medical Director with the county, emphasized that there is no risk of infection to the public. Measures have been and continue to be taken among those who were exposed, but the general public shouldn't be concerned. The county has added a list of Frequently Asked Questions to their website here. 

- - -

news release updated 10:02 a.m.

(Summit County Health) 

REVISED news release

(Summit County Health Department) Summit County Public Health has confirmed a case of pulmonary tuberculosis in a Summit County resident on Jan. 3, 2017. In the course of the tuberculosis (TB) investigation, Summit County Public Health works with the individual to identify persons who were potentially exposed and would benefit from evaluation and testing.

Before being diagnosed with TB disease, this individual visited the Akron Children’s Hospital neonatal intensive care unit at Summa Akron City Hospital in mid-November through mid-December, 2016. Summit County Public Health shared this information with Summa-Akron City Hospital and Akron Children’s Hospital, which operates the neonatal intensive care unit.

Infants who were in the NICU at the Akron Children’s Hospital campus were not at risk of exposure.

The three organizations have worked collaboratively to identify approximately 50 families of infants who were patients in the unit during this time and may have been exposed to the disease. Akron Children’s has begun notifying these families directly.
“The risk for infection is low, but because TB can be more serious in young children we would like to evaluate these infants and begin them on a protective antibiotic,” said Dr. John Bower, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at Akron Children’s Hospital. “We have set up a clinic and are providing this care at no cost to our patient families.” 

In the United States TB disease is an uncommon and potentially serious illness that usually involves the lungs but can affect other parts of the body. In rare cases, people with TB disease can spread the disease to others. TB is spread through the air by
close prolonged contact when a person coughs, speaks, laughs, or sings. It is not spread by casual contact or contact with surfaces.

Almost all cases of TB disease are curable with proper treatment and medication. Active cases of TB disease are uncommon, even after exposure. While TB is contagious, it is difficult for the disease to spread from person to person. Therefore, there is minimal risk to the greater public.

“Adult care givers, older children and other individuals who may have visited the unit only during this time period are also encouraged to have a TB test in 6 to 8 weeks to see if they have been infected,” said Dr. Margo Erme, medical director of the Summit  County Health Department. “This would be about 10 to 12 weeks after the last potential exposure which is the time for the body to develop its response to the TB bacteria. If testing is done earlier, the person would still need to return in 6-8 weeks to be retested. Testing can be done by their private physician or at Summit County Public Health by calling the Clinic Appointment Line, 330-375-2772.” 

The charitable arm of Akron's Goodyear is giving money to help child safety programs.

The Goodyear Foundation is spending a half-million dollars over three years for the "Safe Mobility Project" at Akron Children's Hospital.

Goodyear CEO Richard Kramer says the project will expand programs that keep children safe in cars, on bikes, on foot and as new drivers.

The project will distribute 25-hundred child passenger safety seats and over 27-hunder bike helmets, and will conduct car safety seat and bike helmet safety events in Akron neighborhoods.

(Akron Children's Hospital and Goodyear, news release) Akron Children's Hospital today announced a three-year grant from The Goodyear Foundation to support the "Safe Mobility Project," enabling the hospital and community partner organizations to expand child safety programs focusing on child passenger seats, bike helmets, pedestrian safety and teen drivers.

At an announcement today, Richard J. Kramer, chairman and CEO of The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, said the Safe Mobility Project will build on Goodyear's long support of Akron Children's Hospital, engage Goodyear associates in promoting safe mobility, and expand programs that keep children safe in cars, on bikes, on foot and as new drivers.

"The Goodyear Foundation is excited to collaborate with Akron Children's Hospital on the new Safe Mobility Project to increase the hospital's reach with existing childhood injury prevention efforts, such as child passenger safety seat and bike helmet programs and to add a new teen safe driving program," Kramer said. "We're committed to helping promote safe mobility to make our communities stronger, and ultimately help prevent childhood injuries in our community."

The Safe Mobility Project will distribute 2,500 child passenger safety seats and more than 2,700 bike helmets and conduct car safety seat and bike helmet safety events with parents and caregivers in Akron-area neighborhoods where children are at high risk for injury. The teen driving program will be new to Akron Children's safety programs and will become sustainable after the grant's conclusion. The Goodyear Foundation will contribute $500,000 to support the project over the three year period.

"Advocating for kids and keeping them safe and out of the hospital has always been part of Akron Children's mission," said Bill Considine, president and CEO of Akron Children's. "We see many injuries that can be prevented and greatly appreciate The Goodyear Foundation's generous financial support and commitment to keeping the children in our community safe."

The program's effectiveness will be measured on a regular basis, using Summit County statistics on pediatric unintentional injuries.

"We have made great progress in getting safety information to more parents and removing the barriers to getting bike helmets and child passenger safety seats to those families who need them," said Heather Trnka, Akron Children's injury prevention coalition coordinator. "But we know from research that young children still ride in cars without being secured in a car seat or booster seat and as many as 73 percent of child safety seats are not properly installed in cars."

Trnka said the grant will enable Akron Children's to partner with more child care facilities, Head Start programs, and government agencies to reach children in high risk communities.

As an example, last year Akron Children's held a car seat safety event in Akron's North Hill neighborhood, which has a large population of refugees.

"We were able to remove some of the barriers – transportation, language, financial – in bringing the information to the parents and it was well received," Trnka said. "Car seats and bike helmets are proven – and affordable – means to protect children from serious harm. We just need to get them to more families. It's wonderful that this grant from The Goodyear Foundation will help us do just that."

Dr. Bruce Cohen at Akron Children's Hospital says he doesn't watch much TV.

But tonight, his knowledge plays a role on the TV show "Chicago Med".

Producers of the medical drama needed some information on mitochondrial disease, and Dr. Cohen is a recognized expert on the topic...so, they gave him a call.

Cohen tells WAKR's Jasen Sokol that show producers asked him some "open ended" questions in a 30 minute phone conversation, but he doesn't know anything about the script or how the episode will turn out.

Dr. Cohen says microcondria is crucial in cells that drive the entire human body's functions, and says mitochondrial disease can show up as early as 3 months after a baby is born, to someone in their 60s.

You can see what TV learned from Dr. Cohen tonight at 9 on NBC (WKYC Channel 3 locally).

Akron Children's Hospital's mission isn't just to serve over 800,000 patients a year.

The hospital also needs to train pediatricians and specialists, and part of the recently passed federal budget will help keep that going.

The year-end spending bill includes $295 million for training nationwide. That's $30 million more than last year.

The money amount for the coming year is estimated to be at around $3.5 million to $5.5 million for Akron Children's Hospital.

Children's president and CEO Bill Considine says that the money won't fund all training, but will help make their program "top notch".

"We are always looking for support, so we can turn out the specialists that serve about 90 percent of the country," Considine tells WAKR.net. "Yet, we have not received federal dollars, so that's why this line item is so important to us."

Considine says about 20 years ago, Children's, which doesn't get Medicare money since it treates children, got a small fraction of the training funding those other hospitals received.

Get ready for a mouthful; The Akron Children's Hospital Akron Marathon Race Series Marathon, Half-Marathon and Team Relay will become the Akron Children's Hospital Akron Marathon Race Series Marathon, Half-Marathon and Team Relay presented by FirstEnergy. And that's a good thing.

It may take a few breaths to get the name out, but it does show the deep level of support and backing one of the premier events showcasing Akron enjoys locally from the Akron business community. Two of the business community's heavyweights reinforced that message as Bill Considine, CEO of Akron Children's Hospital and Chuck Jones, CEO of FirstEnergy, teamed with Akron Mayor Jeff Fusco and Akron Marathon founder Steve Marks to announce the event's new sponsorships.

Akron Children's Hospital stepped in last month and FirstEnergy signed up as a presenting sponsor, something the Akron-based utility wanted to do before Time Warner first led as presenting sponsor in 2003. Jones said the utility sees the sponsorship as continuation of what it's done giving back to the communities it serves across it's five-state footprint.

"Our headquarters is here, this will always be our home, it's been our home for over a hundred years," Jones said. "Akron's a great community...I'm proud of the growth that it's seen, how it's transformed itself from the rubber capital of the world to a vibrant city."

Considine is a key player among Akron's corporate and community leaders.

"We're pretty excited about it. It unites the community," Considine said. "It's a national event...we're a national hospital, seeing patients from all 50 states at Akron Children's Hospital. An event like the Akron Marathon shows the community cares." Considine called Akron a "champion city" and said the Marathon is an "image builder" for Akron. 

"The Akron Marathon has always been about community, and we're extremely happy one of the largest employers in Summit County has stepped up," said Marathon founder Steve Marks.

The Akron Marathon drew more than 20,000 participants during it's events in 2015 with events including the full marathon, half-marathon, relay and other races.

- - -

(Akron Marathon)FirstEnergy Corp. has signed a three-year agreement with the Akron Children's Hospital Akron Marathon Race Series to serve as the presenting sponsor of the Marathon, Half Marathon and Team Relay held each September. The announcement was made Tuesday at a special event at Cascade Plaza in downtown Akron.

FirstEnergy replaces Time Warner Cable, which had served as presenting sponsor since the Akron Marathon's inception in 2003.

"The Akron Marathon has always been about community and we're extremely happy one of the largest employers in Summit County has stepped up to become presenting sponsor," said Steve Marks, Akron Marathon founder. "At the same time, we'd like to thank Time Warner Cable for being a great partner for the first 13 years of the event."

Headquartered in Akron, FirstEnergy has more than 15,000 employees who serve six million customers across six states.

"We're thrilled to partner with Akron Children's Hospital to increase our sponsorship of the Akron Marathon," said Chuck Jones, president and CEO of FirstEnergy. "This race has become a nationally-respected event, both because it's so well-organized and because of the tremendous ways this community has embraced it. Many of our employees and customers run, volunteer and cheer for this event every year, making this a perfect fit for FirstEnergy."

FirstEnergy has been a major sponsor of the Akron marathon since its inception in 2003.

The inaugural Akron Marathon featured 3,775 participants and has grown to more than 14,000 across the weekend's events. The marquee event generates more than $6 million in economic activity and generates thousands of dollars more in contributions to countless charities.

"FirstEnergy has been a longtime partner of Akron Children's Hospital, and we are delighted that they accepted our invitation to step up to presenting sponsor of the marathon as we become the race's title beneficiary in 2016," said Bill Considine, Akron Children's Hospital president and CEO. "We are grateful to FirstEnergy and all the individuals and organizations who are so civic-minded and make Akron such a great place to live."

Known as the Akron Marathon Rubber City Race Series in 2015, more than 20,000 runners participated across the three events. The series dates were developed to help guide runners through a typical training schedule leading up to the marquee events. The 2016 events will be held June 25 (8k & 1-Mile), August 13 (Half Marathon & 10k) and Sept. 24 (Full Marathon, Half Marathon, Team Relay & Kids Fun Run). Registration is scheduled to open this winter.

The Akron Marathon's official name is getting even longer, with official word coming Tuesday afternoon.

It was a mouthful when the Akron Marathon Race Series became the Akron Children's Hospital Akron Marathon Race Series, and now you can add another title name sponsor into the mix.

Officials from Akron Children's Hospital, the Akron Marathon and FirstEnergy will be announcing even more support for the event that's grown into a national race. All are tight-lipped ahead of the announcement Tuesday afternoon but FirstEnergy will take title of one of the Akron Marathon signature races.

There is a delicious irony to FirstEnergy's sponsorship; the utility already sponsors the All-American Soap Box Derby by name, meaning it'll be a title sponsor on two Akron-based races -- one billed as a thrill down the hill thanks to and the other based on human-powered motion, both unaided by engines or motors. Neither race needing electricity.