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Ohio AG: Criminalize misuse of Flock cams

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While calling Flock Safety automatic license plate reader cameras effective when used properly, Attorney General Andy Wilson said the state Legislature should criminalize their misuse. In a Wednesday statement, Wilson, a Republican, said: “Misuse of Flock is rare and breaches should result in serious consequences. To that end, the Ohio General Assembly should criminalize the misuse of Flock just as it currently criminalizes the misuse of other law enforcement technology.” Wilson said: “Unauthorized use of the Ohio Law Enforcement Gateway, for example, is a fifth-degree felony ...

McDonald council places moratorium on data centers

Local News

McDONALD — While recent meetings have lasted for two or more hours, village council at a special meeting Wednesday took less than five minutes to approve an emergency ordinance placing a one-year moratorium on data centers in the village. Council voted 5-0 on the moratorium. Councilman Brian Bosheff was not able to attend. The one-year moratorium means the village will not accept, process or consider any applications for any data centers in the village. Council President Sean Schmidt said council and village officials will always do what is in the best interest of the village and ...

YBI rings in $35K with 3rd Taco Bell grant

Local News

Staff report The Taco Bell Foundation, an extension of the fast-food restaurant chain, has awarded $35,517 to YBI’s Explore VR program. This marks the third consecutive year the Mahoning Valley-based incubator has received the community grant. This year’s funding will support career exploration and awareness in the Youngstown area through Explore VR’s immersive, VR-based lesson plans. “We’re incredibly grateful to the Taco Bell Foundation and its local franchise partners for supporting YBI’s Explore VR Youth Program,” said Rochelle Landy, director of Explore VR at ...

Procurement day aimed at Valley business owners

Business News

Staff report The Connector, an event to help business owners navigate procurement and land contracts across government, healthcare, transportation and more, will take place 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 23 at the Public Library of Youngstown & Mahoning County. YBI and the Youngstown/Warren Minority Business Assistance Center are presenting the gathering. The Connector is built around a simple idea: business owners already know how to run their operations, and procurement is the path to landing contracts with schools, cities and state organizations to do that same work at scale. The event ...

City council fails to approve Sparkle Market bailout grant

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YOUNGSTOWN — A rare tie vote from city council led to the rejection of a $350,000 grant to provide assistance to the struggling Sparkle Market in Cornersburg. Council voted 3-3 Wednesday with Councilwoman Amber White, I-7th Ward, abstaining on the advice of the city law department. A tie vote means the proposal failed and if it will be considered again by council it will have to be reintroduced. Voting in favor of the grant were Jimmy Hughes, D-2nd Ward; Samantha Turner, D-3rd Ward; and Pat Kelly, D-5th Ward. Those in opposition were Julius Oliver, D-1st Ward; Mike Ray, D-4th ...

Commissioners lean toward moving new 911 Center to KSU Trumbull

Local News

WARREN — Trumbull County Commissioners on Wednesday said they are strongly leaning toward placing the new Trumbull County 911 Center at Kent State University at Trumbull campus instead of the second floor of the county’s Health Department building in Cortland. Commission President Tony Bernard made the announcement during a discussion about applying for a 2026 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant through the Ohio Office of Criminal Justice Services. “Our next phase is we are going to sit down with Kent State officials and see if we could come up with a tentative ...