Truck driver dies in Route 11 accident
AUSTINTOWN - A truck driver from Youngstown was killed early Friday in an accident on state Route 11.
A spokeswoman for the Canfield Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol said the truck, driven by 55-year-old Roger Watkins, was traveling south near Kirk Road when the truck went off the road and hit a tree, fence and bridge support.
The spokeswoman said one of the southbound lanes was closed as crews from the state Department of Transportation checked the bridge for damage and the lane was opened back up about 2 p.m.
The cause of the accident is under investigation.
Man beaten by two others in Warren
WARREN - Steven A. Boggs, 23, 437 Vine Ave. N.E., told police he was beaten by two other men about 11 p.m. Thursday at Prospect and School streets N.W.
Boggs said in a police report the two men hit him in the face with a beer bottle and hit him with their knees and kicked him. Reports state he had several injuries to his face, forearms and hands.
He sought treatment at Trumbull Memorial Hospital, reports state.
Fed money funds area road repairs
WARREN - A federal program will provide $983,928 to repair and improve King Graves Road leading to the Youngstown Air Reserve Station and a portion of highway in Canfield, according to U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown.
About $1.67 million was awarded to repair and improve U.S. Route 224 in Mahoning County.
The money is part of a bipartisan highway bill that will jump start critical infrastructure projects. The bill funds infrastructure projects through 2014 at current levels, supporting more than 50,050 Ohio jobs per year, according to Brown.
Elections board to hold special meeting
WARREN - The Trumbull County Board of Elections will hold a special meeting at 9 a.m. Monday.
Board members will certify nonpartisan petitions and questions and issues for the Nov. 6 election and also adopt in-person absentee voting days and a plan for the election.
79 human cases of swine flu in Ohio
COLUMBUS - Ohio officials say there are now 79 human cases in the state of a new swine flu strain, more than double the number reported earlier this month.
Health and agriculture officials released a new figure Friday showing 79 cases statewide of the influenza strain, known for spreading from pigs to people. It's a jump from 30 in early August.
The cases have been reported in 21 Ohio counties, with Butler County near Cincinnati having the most at 17.
Officials say many of the cases are linked to people who have had direct contact with swine, or pigs. There are no reported deaths.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say cases of the new strain have popped up in other states.
ATV trail at state park spurs disagreement
GLOUSTER - Some in rural southeastern Ohio are disagreeing over a proposal that would turn a struggling state park into a haven for ATV enthusiasts.
At issue is how to revitalize the struggling Burr Oak State Park near Athens.
The Columbus Dispatch reports that about 100 people attending a meeting this week about the park's future were passionate and about evenly split over a proposal for a trail for the motorized recreational vehicles.
Some said it would draw more people to the park. Opponents said it would bring noise, potential injuries and land destruction.
ATVs are currently banned from trails at all Ohio state parks, although they are allowed in designated areas in some state forests.
Attendance at the 3,000-acre park has been dropping. The park's lodge has been closed since February.