Breaking News

Boardman teachers pact approved

BOARDMAN — The Boardman Board of Education during its regular meeting Monday unanimously approved a new three-year contract with the Boardman Education Association (BEA) that includes no raises in the base salary. The board also approved a two-year agreement with the Ohio Association of ...

Consumers’ watchdog opposes SOBE hikes

The Office of the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel has requested the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio revisit its decision to impose huge emergency rate hikes on SOBE Thermal Energy Systems LLC’s downtown Youngstown customers. The OCC filed a motion, on behalf of SOBE’s residential ...

Judge dismisses kidnapping charge

YOUNGSTOWN — Though prosecutors last week said Terrance A. “Andy” Machen, 35, of Youngstown, still faced one additional kidnapping charge in Youngstown Municipal Court, in addition to the two counts of kidnapping, two counts of felonious assault and one count of aggravated robbery he was indicted on three years ago, municipal court officials said Monday that is no longer true. Municipal court officials said Monday the additional kidnapping charge in municipal court is now dismissed, eliminating the need for a preliminary hearing in municipal court Monday. The reason it was ...

Ciccone fails to file routine finance reports

YOUNGSTOWN — The office of embattled Mahoning County Clerk of Courts Michael Ciccone failed to file routine monthly reconciliation reports for well over a year until county commissioners agreed to pay an accounting firm to do the job. Based on the recommendation of county Auditor Ralph Meacham, the commissioners voted April 28 to pay up to $25,000 to the Canfield accounting firm of Schroedel, Scullin & Bestic LLC to do the work. When SSB discovered how bad the situation was in the clerk of courts’ office, the commissioners on July 18 authorized an amended agreement for an estimated ...

Cracker Barrel CEO steps down a year after logo debacle

Cracker Barrel’s CEO is stepping down nearly a year after an attempted rebrand of the chain led to a fierce customer backlash. Cracker Barrel said Monday that CEO Julie Masino will step down next month but remain with the company until Oct. 9 in an advisory capacity. David Deno will succeed Masino on Aug. 10 as CEO. Deno served as the CEO of Bloomin’ Brands, which owns Outback Steakhouse and other chains, from 2019 until he retired in 2024. He has also held executive roles as Best Buy and Yum Brands, which is the parent company of KFC and Taco Bell. Lebanon, Tennessee-based ...

Community news

TRIBUTE TO REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIERS: An America250 celebration with a tribute and dedication to Revolutionary War soldiers buried in Milton Township will be at 5 p.m. Friday at the Lake Milton amphitheater at Craig Beach. A ceremony will include a tribute to 22 local soldiers and their families and descendants. Following the event will be a party at the beach from 6 to 10 p.m. at with the band RDNA at the amphitheater. There also will be food vendors. FUR, FEATHER AND SCALES: Raptor Hallow Sanctuary will present a program “Fur, Feather and Scales’” at 1 p.m. Wednesday at Woodland ...