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Enrollment slightly increases at YSU

YOUNGSTOWN — Despite higher education in general facing trying times against a backdrop of a difficult region from which to recruit prospective students, Youngstown State University’s enrollment has shown another gain. “We’re in one of the toughest recruitment areas,” Trustee Charles T. George said during the YSU Board of Trustees’ quarterly meeting Thursday morning in Tod Hall. Nevertheless, according to data YSU released on the 14th day of this semester, a day that acts as the official census date for a final full- and part-time enrollment figure, the headcount is ...

Campbell woman pleads guilty; abused dog rescued

CAMPBELL — A city woman will be on probation for two years after her dog was found running around her neighborhood in terrible physical condition. Court records state that Donna Yasechko, 46, of Penhale Avenue, pleaded guilty Tuesday to one count of cruelty to a companion animal, a fifth-degree felony. In exchange for the plea, a misdemeanor count of the same offense was dropped. Mahoning County Common Pleas Court Judge John Durkin imposed the sentence. Yasechko was arrested in August after Campbell police found a small white dog running loose in her neighborhood. When police ...

New probe of ex-Campbell police chief begins

CAMPBELL — The city’s former police chief — now a bailiff — is under investigation again. Campbell police are investigating allegations of stalking, harassment and menacing against Campbell Municipal Court Bailiff Dennis Puskarcik after what a city employee described as a yearlong pattern of targeted behavior that makes her fear for her safety. A police report states the employee filed the complaint Sept. 10, two days after Puskarcik submitted a public records request to the Campbell Fire Department. The request seeks reports, firefighter and EMT notes, video and other ...

Insight reaches $5.1M settlement with Valley workers

Insight Health System has agreed to pay $5.1 million to resolve a federal lawsuit involving approximately 800 union workers released as part of Insight’s mass layoffs in March 2025. The Michigan-based healthcare provider’s initial payment of $1.5 million into a settlement fund will be made Dec. 31. Twelve payments of $300,000 each will occur through Dec. 31, 2029. Details of the preliminary settlement were released Monday. The sides originally reached the agreement following an 8 1/2-hour mediation conference April 28. If approved, plaintiffs’ legal fees will account for ...

House approves Joyce’s bill to have border patrol adopt shelter dogs

The U.S. House of Representatives has approved a bill, sponsored by U.S. Rep. Dave Joyce, to have U.S. Customs and Border Protection establish a pilot program to adopt dogs from animal shelters to be trained as part of its Support Canine Program. By a voice vote, the House approved the Providing Emotional Assistance with Relief and Love (PEARL) Act on Wednesday, its last day in session until after the Nov. 3 election. Pearl was the name of the CBP’s first therapy dog. The CBP in 2023 launched the Support Canine Program to improve staff morale, assist in grief, aid in trauma ...

Girard to hear about possibility of mountain bike trail

GIRARD — With the possibility the city may get a mountain bike trail on the Girard Lakes property, a resident is advising officials to attend a program about them. Resident Tonya Carpenter told city officials this week that she has spoken to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources’ Division of State Parks and Watercraft about trail building, and they said a representative can do a presentation at West Branch State Park. Girard officials would be invited to attend. Carpenter said the presentation would be two days and show what is involved for constructing and marking a bike ...