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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 ...

Man who sprayed Rep. Omar gets 14 months of prison

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The man who sprayed vinegar at Democratic U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar during a Minneapolis town hall was sentenced Thursday to 14 months in prison after reaching a deal with prosecutors. The sentencing of 56-year-old Anthony Kazmierczak came nearly eight months after the Jan. ...

MVSD discusses potential rate increase

NILES — City officials said a water rate increase would impact communities across the Mahoning Valley and a one-hour conversation wasn’t enough time to reach a conclusion. City council members ahead of Wednesday’s regular meeting heard from Mahoning Valley Sanitary District representatives, who are proposing a purchasing bulk rate of 37 cents per 1,000 gallons used. The rate would be the wholesale cost to the city, not the final rate directly billed on an individual resident’s utility bill. Brenda Duffett, MVSD’s finance manager and board secretary, said none of them ...

Choffin honors life of student killed in crash

Staff report YOUNGSTOWN — Students and staff at Choffin Career & Technical Center gathered recently to honor the life and memory of E’Lexus Conner, a Public Safety Academy student who was killed in a crash July 12 at Market Street and East Myrtle Avenue on the South ...

Ohio AG: Criminalize misuse of Flock cams

While calling Flock Safety automatic license plate reader cameras effective when used properly, Attorney General Andy Wilson said the state Legislature should criminalize their misuse. In a Wednesday statement, Wilson, a Republican, said: “Misuse of Flock is rare and breaches should result in serious consequences. To that end, the Ohio General Assembly should criminalize the misuse of Flock just as it currently criminalizes the misuse of other law enforcement technology.” Wilson said: “Unauthorized use of the Ohio Law Enforcement Gateway, for example, is a fifth-degree felony ...

McDonald council places moratorium on data centers

McDONALD — While recent meetings have lasted for two or more hours, village council at a special meeting Wednesday took less than five minutes to approve an emergency ordinance placing a one-year moratorium on data centers in the village. Council voted 5-0 on the moratorium. Councilman Brian Bosheff was not able to attend. The one-year moratorium means the village will not accept, process or consider any applications for any data centers in the village. Council President Sean Schmidt said council and village officials will always do what is in the best interest of the village and ...