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Austintown announces free meals for all students

AUSTINTOWN — The Austintown Local School District will provide free breakfast and lunch to all students under the federal Community Eligibility Provision for the 2026-27 school year. This policy eliminates the collection of meal applications for free, reduced price and paid student meals; reduces burdens for both families and school administrators; and helps ensure that students receive nutritious meals, according to a news release from the district. Families with children eligible for school meals may also be eligible for free health care coverage through Medicaid and/or Ohio’s ...

Rulli violates federal law on stock trading

U.S. Rep. Michael Rulli failed to timely disclose 22 stock trades, including those dating back to late 2024, in violation of a federal law designed to prevent insider trading by members of Congress. Rulli, R-Salem, violated the Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge (STOCK) Act though it ...

Woman pleads not guilty in Liberty booster scam

LIBERTY — A Youngstown woman is set to appear back in court next month after being accused of using her position to steal from two of the school’s extracurricular booster programs. Christina Merrick, 48, pleaded not guilty to a charge of misuse of a credit card in front of Girard ...

New fire chief, police officers take oaths in Boardman

BOARDMAN — The township swore in two new officers with another new official standing by. At Monday’s regular trustees meeting, Boardman welcomed two new police officers to the department. Looking on during their oaths and sitting next to their supervisor, police Chief Todd Werth, was ...

Funds OK’d for mental health jail employee

YOUNGSTOWN — Mahoning County officials have taken another step toward improving mental health care within its criminal justice system. Mahoning County Commissioners at their meeting Thursday approved the allocation of $60,000 in opioid settlement funds to the Mahoning County Mental Health and Recovery Board to support the hiring of a forensic mental health navigator. The MHRB employee will be stationed at the Mahoning County Justice Center and will serve as a liaison between the jail, inmates and the county court system. The navigator position has been in discussion since earlier ...

Boy, 6, dies after being shot Monday afternoon in Youngstown

YOUNGSTOWN — A 6-year-old boy died after being found shot inside a home in the 500 block of Plum Street on the near West Side Monday afternoon. The Youngstown Police Department issued a press release Tuesday morning stating that police were called to the home at 4:09 p.m. for a shooting. When they arrived, they found the boy shot inside a bedroom and began life-saving measures until paramedics arrived. The child was transported to St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, the release states. Youngstown police detectives and its crime scene unit were called to ...