Brae Hudson, left, and Chmicka Kennedy, juniors at Choffi n Career and Technical Center in Youngstown, participate in Junior Achievement of Mahoning Valley’s Success Skills program Wednesday at the school.

Published on February 9, 2012

Lowellville’s Kaye Solak (4) shoots against Western Reserve’s Linley Mamonis during the first half of Monday’s Inter Tri-County League game. The Rockets clinched the league championship with a 74-50 victory.

Published on February 7, 2012

Shirlene Hill, mother of Jamail Johnson, a Youngstown State University senior who was murdered a year ago Monday, is embraced during a march in her son’s memory and a plea to stop area violence.

Published on February 7, 2012

Third-grade teacher Ashley Wallace’s students at Lynn Kirk Elementary School in Austintown are using Samsung Galaxy tablets in class as part of a pilot program to test the device’s uses in the classroom. Angelina Diana, above, works on the Galaxy while school-board member Dave Schnurrenberger looks on. Two other district teachers — one at Austintown Middle School and one at Fitch High School — also are testing the tablets, Superintendent Vince Colaluca said.

Published on February 6, 2012

Alicia Warden, mother of comedianactor Tracy Morgan, talks in the living room of her South Side home about her life. She spoke about her relationship with her wealthy son, and how it has gone so wrong.

Published on February 3, 2012

Mike Smeck, of Amherst, Ohio, was one of a small group who gathered Tuesday in downtown Youngstown to rally against the abuse of animals. Smeck and others held signs supporting House Bill 108, or Nitro’s Law, which would make animal abuse inside a kennel a felony offense.

Published on February 2, 2012

Crestview’s C.J. Collins shoots as Springfi eld’s Ron Rogers (31) watches during their game on Tuesday in New Middletown. The Tigers See TIGERS, B4 won, 61-52.

Published on February 1, 2012

Youngstown Municipal Court Administrator George Denney stands in the area of the police department’s fifth floor, where video arraignments will begin Monday. The city will spend $22,000 for a new videoarraignment system after the Mahoning County sheriff decided to end the practice at the county jail.

Published on January 31, 2012

Kolya arm-wrestles with Beth White, Youngstown Orthopaedic Associates director of marketing, during a visit there. White heard about his story, and the practice is donating physical-therapy sessions.

Published on January 30, 2012

Jane Haggerty, math coach at P. Ross Berry Eighth and Ninth Grade Academy in Youngstown, uses an ordinary deck of playing cards to help students improve their math skills. The playing cards were on her teacher wish list.

Published on January 27, 2012

Aleishka Rodriguez, a fourth-grader at Youngstown’s Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School, enrolled in the school as a second-grader speaking Spanish. Now, with help from her teacher, Joan Fahey, others at the school and family members, Aleishka speaks English fluently. About 250 students participate in the city schools’ English language learners program for students who speak other languages.

Published on January 27, 2012

Youngstown Police Department Patrolman Richard Baldwin is shown in a hallway at Chaney High School, where he works as a security officer two days a week. The Ohio Veterans of Foreign Wars named Baldwin its Law Enforcement Officer of the Year. He will receive the award Saturday at the VFW’s Mid-Year Conference in Columbus.

Published on January 27, 2012

Contributions are being taken for the renovation project for the former Rayen Stadium. About $1.7 million of the $3 million goal has been raised or pledged.

Published on January 26, 2012

Poland’s Eddie Moore, left, fights for the ball with Lakeview’s Louie Novakovich during first-half action Tuesday at Poland.

Published on January 25, 2012

Liberty Board of Education President Joe Nohra, right, reads a list of more than $1 million in cuts to district personnel as board Vice President David Malone looks on. The cuts will go into effect at the beginning of fiscal year 2013, which begins July 1.

Published on January 24, 2012

Brandon Sullivan, 15, stands in the bedroom of his home at 157 Logan Ave. SE in Warren with his grandmother, Deborah Nicholl. Earlier this month, Brandon awoke and discovered a fire in the attic where his grandmother was sleeping. He woke her and alerted other family members who got out safely.

Published on January 23, 2012

Gwendolyn E. Boyd was the keynote speaker Thursday at the 10th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Diversity Breakfast at Youngstown State University. A Montgomery, Ala., native, Boyd was one of five black students who attended Jefferson Davis High School. She was a math honor student and class valedictorian. She graduated summa cum laude from Yale University with a bachelor of science degree in mathematics.

Published on January 20, 2012

Published on January 19, 2012

A “No Dumping” sign stands at the contaminated site of the former Ohio Leather Co. property off U.S. Route 422 in Girard. After more than a decade of negotiations with the owners, the city decided Tuesday to obtain the land via foreclosure procedures.

Published on January 18, 2012

The Rescue Mission of the Mahoning Valley had an open house Monday at the facility, located at 962 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Youngstown.

Published on January 17, 2012