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Monday is deadline to nominate top firefighters

Monday is the last day to nominate a Mahoning County firefighter for The Vindicator’s annual Mahoning County Firefighter of the Year competition. Nominees will be evaluated on dedication, productivity, loyalty and professionalism. They must serve with a fire department in Mahoning County, be at least 18 and hold any rank below chief. Fire department personnel can nominate a fellow firefighter, but nominations also can be submitted by the public. Nominators should include a written statement explaining why the individual meets the criteria for the award, and the nominations should ...

Eastwood Mall to present free Health and Wellness Expo

Staff report A trip to the Eastwood Mall Complex could be the key to a healthier you. Once again, the mall is hosting the Trumbull County Health and Wellness Expo from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday in the mall’s Center Court. More than 35 local health care providers and other agencies will be on hand to offer advice and medical care. Meijer pharmacists will administer flu and COVID-19 shots. St. Joe’s at the Mall will conduct blood pressure screenings. The American Red Cross will host a blood drive. Instructors from Onyx Health Club will conduct strength testing. The ...

These simple portfolio checks could save you from costly mistakes

A portfolio management policy of benign neglect beats a too-active one any day. Nonetheless, it’s a good idea to check up on your portfolio periodically. Here are key items to keep on your dashboard. Step 1: Conduct a wellness check. If you’re still accumulating assets for retirement, does your current portfolio balance, combined with your savings rate, put you on track to reach your goal? Tally your various contributions across all accounts so far in 2026: A decent baseline savings rate is 15%, but higher-income folks will want to aim for 20% or higher. You’ll also need to aim ...

Ryan named to bipartisan AI commission

Tim Ryan, who represented the Mahoning Valley in the U.S. House for 20 years, was among 20 people named to the Commission on AI and the Future of the American Workforce. Created by the American Enterprise Institute and the Urban Institute, the commission plans to assess how artificial intelligence is reshaping jobs, skills, benefits and earnings. It also seeks to develop practical policy options to help workers, employers and governments adapt. The committee is co-chaired by Republican Paul Ryan, a former speaker of the U.S. House, and Democrat Gina Raimondo, a former U.S. secretary ...

$350K request for Sparkle makes agenda

YOUNGSTOWN — A $350,000 grant to help keep the Sparkle Market in Cornersburg and the $350,000 sale of the former Bottom Dollar grocery store building are on Youngstown City Council’s Wednesday agenda, but passage at the meeting is very uncertain. That’s because both ordinances were supposed to first be discussed at a Monday community planning and economic development (CPED) committee meeting that was canceled. The CPED committee last met July 13 with members expressing skepticism over the Sparkle economic stabilization grant. Councilman Julius Oliver, D-1st Ward and CPED ...

Area auto dealers hold steady in August sales report

Northern Ohio dealers in a 21-county area witnessed a 1.3-percentage point increase in August’s new car and truck sales compared to 2025 numbers, the Greater Cleveland Automobile Dealers’ reported last week. For the year, the region finds itself behind 3,000 units overall. Total new cars and truck sales last month totaled 19,209 compared to 18,957 in August 2025. “New vehicle sales in the region eked out a gain for August as the market continues to battle price inflation and high borrowing costs,” said Louis A. Vitantonio, association president. “The result has been ...