At an Akron City Council meeting, Brian Lucey, representing Akron's Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 7, stated the union's willingness to engage in discussions on police reform, offering to meet with anyone at any time for this purpose. Lucey's remarks were prompted by Councilman James Hardy's suggestion to pause discussions on a new police headquarters until reform is achieved. Councilwoman Jan Davis echoed the need for dialogue on policing in Akron.

Hardy expressed support for Davis' call for reform-oriented conversations, indicating his intention to vote against funding for a new police department until meaningful reform discussions take place. He emphasized the importance of involving all stakeholders in these talks and advocated for a new standard for police-community relations.

Lucey accused Hardy of supporting police defunding, which Hardy refuted, citing his past support for police funding increases. Hardy emphasized the necessity of rethinking the current approach to policing and promoting constructive dialogue rather than divisive rhetoric.

Both Hardy and Davis emphasized the importance of involving Akron's underserved communities in reform discussions and expressed readiness to collaborate with the union and other stakeholders to initiate proactive conversations aimed at positive change.

Parasson's Closing All But One Location

Parasson's is closing all of their locations except for the on on Waterloo road. The Stow location on Darrow Road closed last Saturday, and the Barberton location at 234 Wooster Road. So if you want some of their yummy garlic bread, you need to visit the Waterloo road location.

Fortunately, according to the University of Connecticut, Ohio is not in the path of the two broods set to emerge across much of the Southeast and Midwest.

according to the Ohio Department of Transportation.

Beginning 5 a.m. Wednesday, South Street eastbound from state Route 93/Manchester Road will be closed through early September. The detour will be Thornton Street to Rhodes Street to Lakeshore Boulevard to South Street.

Beginning 7 p.m. Friday, SR 93/Manchester Road at South Street will be closed until 7 a.m. Saturday morning for a bridge deck pour. The northbound detour will be Kenmore Boulevard to Lakeshore Boulevard to Thornton Street. The southbound detour will be Thornton Street to Rhodes Street to Lakeshore Boulevard to South Street.

Other New traffic patterns

According to the Ohio Department of Transportation.

Beginning 5 a.m. Wednesday, South Street eastbound from state Route 93/Manchester Road will be closed through early September. The detour will be Thornton Street to Rhodes Street to Lakeshore Boulevard to South Street.

Beginning 7 p.m. Friday, SR 93/Manchester Road at South Street will be closed until 7 a.m. Saturday morning for a bridge deck pour. The northbound detour will be Kenmore Boulevard to Lakeshore Boulevard to Thornton Street. The southbound detour will be Thornton Street to Rhodes Street to Lakeshore Boulevard to South Street.

Other new traffic patterns

At 8 p.m. Friday, state Route 21 northbound under Interstate 77 in Copley Township will be closed through 5 a.m. May 6 for bridge work. The detour will be I-77 southbound to Ridgewood Road to I-77 northbound.

State Route 303 east of I-77 is also closed for pavement repairs. The detour is Interstate 271 to I-77 to state Route 176 to SR 303.

Fox 8 meteorologist Andre Bernier will give his final forecast on May 22, retiring after more than 36 years with the television station.

Andre Bernier announced his retirement on the same day as his birthday.

The second phase of the Rubber City Heritage Trail will include 10-foot...

Welcome back to the Akron Podcast, where we tackle the tough stories affecting our community. Today is April 11th, 2024, and we have a difficult topic. This isn't an April Fool's Day prank—it's a serious incident involving Tavion Koonce-Williams, a 15-year-old East High School student whom an Akron police officer shot under contentious circumstances.

Reports indicate that Williams was carrying what appeared to be a gun—but was later revealed to be a toy—as he was walking home. A concerned citizen's call to the police led to a confrontation that ended with Williams being shot in the hand by Officer Ryan Westlake, a cop with a checkered past, including being previously fired and reinstated.

The bodycam footage is out for public scrutiny and raises alarming concerns. Why do our teens feel the need to carry fake guns for protection? And why was Officer Westlake, with a history of unprofessional conduct, allowed back on the force, only to be involved in another controversial shooting? We'll delve into Westlake's disciplinary record, examine the city's handling of the case, and look at how this repeats patterns we've seen in previous incidents.

It's a tragic story with far-reaching implications, and it leaves us asking hard questions about police accountability, community safety, and the deep-seated issues that lead to such incidents. Join us as we explore this crucial matter on the Akron Podcast.

Sources:

https://www.beaconjournal.com/story/news/2024/04/08/akron-police-officer-who-shot-teen-was-fired-reinstated-in-2021/73242042007/

Mentioned in this episode:

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Akron police and EMS were dispatched to the scene at about 11:15 p.m. Tuesday. They found the victim, an employee at the store, with an apparent gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at 11:38 p.m.

The shooting occurred after a man approached the drive-thru window on foot seeking to buy black and mild cigars, Akron police Capt. Michael Miller said.

He handed the clerk some cash that was in poor condition, possibly with soil or blood, Miller said. A dispute quickly broke out over the condition of the money. The suspect then pulled out a long-barreled rifle. That's when the clerk returned the cigar to the suspect and asked him to leave with it.

Before fleeing on foot, the suspect fired at least two shots through the window at the group of employees inside the drive-thru, striking the 21-year-old at least once. Shattered glass may have injured others standing nearby, Miller said.

See the Akron Shootings app to see other murders in our city

https://www.mapcustomizer.com/map/Akron-Killings

The National Park Service plans to close a large section of the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail to visitors.

A 1.5-mile section of the popular trail just north of the Station Road Bridge Trailhead in Brecksville will close on weekdays beginning Dec. 18 through May 3.

Park officials say the closure is needed while crews continue to work on stabilizing the river bank inside of the Cuyahoga Valley National Park.

The trail will be open to visitors on weekends.

This is part of a two-phase project with work shifting to south of Station Road at a later date.

The construction is part of a $14 million effort to stabilize the trail and tracks for the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad along the Cuyahoga River.

Businesses in the area affected by the road closure are open & still accessible, including the Peanut Shoppe of Akron (Hours until Dec. 24th: Monday - Friday 10 am - 5 pm, Saturday 10 am - 4 pm, & Sunday 1 pm - 4 pm.), ChillandIndulge (see the 2nd picture for some of their holiday offerings), Crave, Unknwn, and others.

Don't forget: The Peanut Shoppe has seasonal round tins & boxes for gift-giving, & will also take your order by phone & ship it to anywhere in the U.S. of A. 330-376-7020)

Okay, now the road closure information

The affected area is S. Main St., between Church St. and University Ave.

WHEN:

This stretch of road will be closed on Monday, December 11 through Friday, December 22

WHY:

The closure is for Emergency Sewer Repair.

On Monday, December 11, Kenmore Construction Co. and the City of Akron plan to close S. Main St. to all traffic between Church St. and University Avenue as they begin emergency sewer repair work.

STILL OPEN:

Businesses in the road closure area will still be open and accessible. Park on Church St., University, or in the Summit County or State St. parking decks.

DETOURS:

Southbound traffic will be detoured using E. Bowery St., S. High St., and University Ave.

Northbound traffic will be detoured using University Ave., S. Broadway, and E. Bowery St.

This work is expected to be completed by Friday, December 22.

See the attached image for a map of the detours. For all downtown traffic advisories, visit https://bit.ly/TrafficAdvisoriesDowntownAkron

Christmas chimes won’t be playing at...