Mahoning Valley

Youngstown Business Incubator recently received federal grant money to launch the Rising Tides Initiative, which will help small and medium manufacturers in Eastern Ohio adopt and develop advanced technologies.

BRITE, a business incubator in Warren, provides lab space and support for startups focused on clean energy. It’s seen tremendous growth since hiring a full-time leader in 2017.

Nowhere is the strain of a tight labor market on tech firms more apparent than in the Mahoning Valley, which has seen generations of population loss.

In just a few weeks Ohioans will choose a new senator to replace retiring Republican Rob Portman. For voters in the Mahoning Valley, that choice, Tim Ryan or J.D. Vance, hits close to home.

Removing tires from a river doesn’t just help the river; it helps build community among political leaders, businesses, environmentalists and other groups, and in the Mahoning Valley, these groups have often been in conflict.

Parts of the Mahoning River were once considered unsafe for human contact. But in the five decades since most of the industry left, the water quality has improved. The fish are back, and it’s even safe to eat them. There are people who've been watching the river’s recovery.

The average price per gallon spiked 32 cents in Akron and 22 cents in Cleveland; Akronites will get to experience a new park this coming weekend on a portion of the decommissioned innerbelt; A developer has laid out a $100 million plan to restore a historic neighborhood in Cleveland Heights and erect new apartments, homes, parking and dining structures to revive the area ... and more stories.

Like many Northeast Ohio rivers, the Mahoning has an industrial legacy. It was once deemed too polluted for human contact. But when the steel mills began closingin the 1970’s, the river started restoring itself. Now some trailblazers are working to reconnect the people of the Mahoning Valley with their river.

The former president was in Youngstown to rally for Ohio candidates running in November for different positions; A Cleveland abortion provider is seeing a 50% increase in calls for abortions, including from people across neighboring states where access is severely limited due to bans; and more stories.

The texts were between former FirstEnergy executives who were fired after the company conducted an internal investigation into the federal charges in the largest bribery scandal in Ohio history; Akron Metro RTA is providing free fares for all passengers through Aug. 20; Mahoning Valley's school buses will continue running despite driver shortages affecting all districts statewide and nationwide ... and more stories.