News

DOGE overstated savings on federal ‘receipts’ website, auditors find

National News August 7, 2026

WASHINGTON (AP) — Some of the savings touted by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency are incorrect or lack supporting evidence, according to federal auditors. DOGE began posting its estimated savings on a web page known as the Wall of Receipts. Lawmakers asked the Government Accountability Office to evaluate the accuracy of the estimates, and the watchdog found them lacking in some cases. Auditors found that 108 of 264 leases identified for termination on the Wall of Receipts were already in the process of termination when DOGE was established. In another case, DOGE ...

City resident awakes to gunfire, explosion

Local News August 7, 2026

YOUNGSTOWN — A South Garland Avenue resident reported that about 3:43 a.m. Thursday to being awakened by gunfire “followed by a loud explosion.” When a city police officer arrived at the East Side home, he spoke with city firefighters, who said they discovered fire on the porch and a blanket on fire in the street, a report states. Firefighters said they smelled gasoline or other accelerants when they arrived. They did not observe any incendiary devices after extinguishing the fire. The resident was reported sleeping when awakened by the explosion and gunfire. The resident ran ...

McConnell says he’s leaving rehabilitation center to continue recovery at home

National News August 7, 2026

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky says he’s been discharged from a rehabilitation center and will continue his recovery from home. The former Senate leader was first admitted to the hospital on June 14. He disclosed weeks later that his hospitalization was the result of a fall and said he was undergoing physical therapy. McConnell, 84, gave no specific date for his return to the Capitol, but senators are expected to soon leave Washington for the traditional August recess. Votes are unlikely for the next five weeks once they adjourn. “On the advice ...

Prison system: Mahoning jail fully compliant

Local News August 7, 2026

YOUNGSTOWN —The Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction recently found the Mahoning County jail to be “fully compliant” with jail standards for 2026. The facility was inspected July 8, and no standards were found to be noncompliant, according to a sheriff’s news release. The jail was found to be compliant with all 216 standards, including 55 “essential standards” and 161 “important standards.” The inspection focused on reception and release, classification, housing, sanitation, as well as environmental conditions, communication, visitation, medical and mental ...

Prosecutors ask judge to reconsider dismissal of charge

Local News August 7, 2026

YOUNGSTOWN — The Mahoning County Prosecutor’s Office has filed a motion asking county Common Pleas Court Judge Maureen Sweeney to reconsider her dismissal last week of a felonious assault charge against defendant Marquez Jones, 27. Jones’ attorney, David Betras, requested the dismissal as a result of late arriving evidence — photographs and a crime lab report — fewer than 24 hours before Jones’ bench trial was set to begin July 29 in Sweeney’s courtroom. Betras said he wanted to use one of the photos during the trial that he learned about late but did not know whether ...

FDA OKs Moderna’s mRNA-based vaccine

National News August 7, 2026

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new kind of flu vaccine for older people, the first made with the same mRNA technology that was key to ending the COVID-19 pandemic, manufacturer Moderna said. The shot, named mFlusiva, is intended for adults age 50 or older. Other brands of flu shots already have begun arriving in pharmacies ahead of fall vaccination season, and Moderna said late Wednesday that it expects some of its new version to be available soon at select retailers. While there already are multiple flu vaccine options in the U.S., including three ...