News

McDonald residents seek meetings to develop plan for potential data centers

Local News July 17, 2026

MCDONALD — Village residents are urging council and the administration to hold public meetings on how they would prepare for a potential data center proposal, including developing a plan with clear guidelines and restrictions before a data center expresses interest in locating there. Residents said they are particularly concerned if a data center wants to locate at the former McDonald Steel property. Mayor Ray Lewis told more than 15 residents at Wednesday’s meeting that the planning commission has been working on a plan to have guidelines in place for data centers and other ...

New house rises on former blight site

Local News July 17, 2026

YOUNGSTOWN — For about 15 years, Nick Serra and other Rocky Ridge Neighborhood Association members have implemented and led a variety of neighborhood-improvement projects, though he also is joyous that a few outside entities have come calling. “We’re happy to see people spearheading ...

Juvenile court judge touts success of diversion program

Local News July 17, 2026

YOUNGSTOWN — Mahoning County Juvenile Court Judge Theresa Dellick said the Juvenile Summit on Wednesday was a chance to talk to law enforcement officers and others about how juvenile diversion programs have decreased crime and recidivism and reduced the number of children in detention. The summit in a meeting room of the main branch of the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County also was a chance to hear from lawmakers on legislation affecting juveniles. Dellick said when she was first elected Mahoning County Juvenile Court judge in 2001, the court had more than 2,000 ...

City issues emergency smoke measures

Local News July 17, 2026

Staff report YOUNGSTOWN — Youngstown Mayor Derrick McDowell issued an advisory Thursday afternoon implementing emergency measures to protect people from the smoke emanating from Canadian wildfires. The smoke is causing hazardous air quality, the advisory states. “Due to the hazardous air quality from the Canadian wildfires, the City of Youngstown is implementing the following emergency directives to protect health and the safety of its residents and employees, effective immediately,” according to a city press release. All nonessential city employees are advised to transition ...

Eight seek to fill the opening on McDonald council

Local News July 17, 2026

McDONALD — Two former mayors, a one-time fire chief and several residents have applied to fill an opening on village council as Councilman Don Smith attended his final meeting Wednesday. Smith, a 27-year resident who served as chairman of the finance and capital improvement committee and levy committee, is moving next month with his family. Mayor Ray Lewis said council will be reviewing the eight applicants to have someone in place for the Aug. 19 meeting. The applicants are former mayors James Border and Marty Puckett, former fire chief Nicholas Kish, and residents Dylan ...

Hubbard officials discuss potential data center

Local News July 16, 2026

HUBBARD TOWNSHIP — One Hubbard Township trustee admitted that while he was against data centers, the choice would be up to residents to allow one into the community, as they learned of an interested developer. As part of his report Tuesday night, Trustee Jason Tedrow admitted that data centers weren’t really at the forefront for officials going into 2026. Tedrow said a Massachusetts real estate developer approached trustees about a property originally intended to be a landfill and mentioned the word “data center.” Tedrow said the township’s zoning commission was initially ...