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PUCO agrees to revisit SOBE issue

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The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio directed an administrative law judge to schedule a hearing on revisiting its vote to approve huge emergency rate increases for SOBE Thermal Systems LLC customers. The commission voted 5-0 Wednesday to grant requests for a rehearing on its June 24 approval of emergency rate hikes to SOBE customers by the city of Youngstown and the Office of the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel. With SOBE in serious financial peril, the PUCO approved steam heat rate increase for all 23 of the utility company’s customers, which make up a majority of the downtown ...

ZZ Top drummer, hall of fame member Frank Beard dies at 77

National News

NEW YORK (AP) — Frank Beard, the drummer for the Texas boogie-rock trio ZZ Top who kept the tempo for the band’s biggest hits like “Sharp Dressed Man,” “Legs” and “Gimme All Your Lovin”, has died. He was 77. Beard was in hospice care when he died Tuesday at his ranch in Richmond, Texas, with family members at his side, according to publicist Bob Merlis. Band co-founder and guitarist Billy Gibbons, on tour with bassist Elwood Francis, hailed Beard in a statement. “Today, Elwood and I lost a great friend and collaborator, and the world lost one of the most naturally ...

Demolition of 97-year-old W. Side bridge delayed again

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YOUNGSTOWN — Demolition work for the long-closed West Avenue Bridge, across the Mahoning River, won’t be done until summer 2028 despite the city getting a grant for the work more than three years ago. This is the latest delay for the work to the 97-year-old, 286-foot-long bridge that ...

Tim Ryan firm seeks common ground

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Tim Ryan, who spent 20 years serving the Mahoning Valley in the U.S. House, has opened Unlikely Majorities, a consulting firm that touts it “runs campaigns that make the politically and culturally impossible possible.” A Democrat, Ryan left the U.S. House after 10 two-year terms at the end of 2022, after losing a Senate race to Republican J.D. Vance by 6.1%. Since then, Ryan has advocated for the natural gas industry and cryptocurrency through his Celtic Consulting firm. He considered a run for Ohio governor for this election, but said in November he would not seek the ...

OpenAI introduces ChatGPT for Teens, promising age-appropriate chatbot

Business News

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — OpenAI on Tuesday introduced a version of ChatGPT designed for teenagers — the first generation to grow up with artificial intelligence — who are already using it for schoolwork, questions about daily life and even companionship. The San Francisco-based company says ChatGPT for Teens is tailored for kids ages 13 to 17 with stronger protections including content restrictions around things like suicide, self-harm and romantic or sexual chats. It also provides homework and study support designed to help students learn rather than spit out answers and school ...

Liberty police arrest ‘belligerent’ man on DUI

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LIBERTY — A Youngstown man who Liberty police noted was acting “belligerent” with them after being found unresponsive a short time before is set to return to court next month. Luke Scudier, 20, pleaded not guilty to DUI, offenses involving underage persons and open container in front of Girard Municipal Court Judge Jeffrey Adler Tuesday morning. According to a police report, officers were called to the area of Arabian Lane and Warner Road on Monday afternoon for a man unresponsive behind the wheel of a motor vehicle, who dispatchers said was slumped back in the seat and showed ...