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Head of scheme that stole millions to be sentenced

SALEM — Shreyas Baldevbhai Chaudhary, 25, who is from the Republic of India, will be sentenced at 10 a.m. Thursday in U.S. District Court in Cleveland for his role in a three-person scheme that stole millions of dollars from older adults across the United States, including a 77-year-old Salem man. Prosecutors are recommending that he get about eight to 10 years in prison. They say he was the person who directed the scheme. One of his co-conspirators, Trusha Chaudhary, who is not related to Shreyas Baldevbhai Chaudhary, will be sentenced for her role in the scheme at 3 p.m. today. ...

McDonald board sued for alleged Sunshine Law violation

MCDONALD — A Portage County man has filed a lawsuit against the McDonald Local School District’s Board of Education, claiming that the board violated the state’s Sunshine Laws with how it conducts its meetings. The complaint by Brian Ames, filed Monday in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court, claims that the board conducted executive sessions for unapproved purposes in meetings between Jan. 27, 2025 and Feb. 18, 2026, and that the matter stated as the session’s purpose was not specifically approved by Ohio Revised Code 121.22(G). That particular portion of ORC 121.22, which ...

Program aims to improve literacy

WARREN — Throughout the summer, Warren City School District children have been attending a special program each Thursday at the Highland Terrace Community Center to prepare for the upcoming school year. The Pride and Joy Foundation has hosted the literacy improvement program to help ...

EDITOR’S NOTE: Because of several errors in the original story that ran Aug. 5, this story has been corrected. EDITOR’S NOTE: Because of several errors in the original story that ran Aug. 5, this story is being republished in its entirety. WARREN — The merged parish of St. Teresa of Calcutta Parish will lose one of its church sites early next year. The Rev. Christopher Cicero and parish council have recommended the closure of St. James Church on Burton Street SE as part of the Diocese of Youngstown pastoral plan. The other two parish sites are Blessed Sacrament on Reeves ...

Former Liberty booster makes court appearance

LIBERTY — A Youngstown woman is set to appear back in court next month after being accused of using her position to steal from two of the school’s extracurricular booster programs. Christina Merrick, 48, pleaded not guilty to a charge of misuse of a credit card in front of Girard Municipal Court Judge Jeffery Adler Tuesday morning. She also appeared on two felony theft charges. The charges, filed by the Liberty Police Department in late July, are in connection to the theft of approximately $40,000 from the school’s wrestling and soccer booster programs. An investigation was ...

Vikings turn up the music at band night

Staff photo / R. Michael Semple LaBrae trumpet player Maria Braz, 15, and the rest of the band play the National Anthem to kick off Monday's Band Night. Also performing were Champion, Cardinal Middlefield, Windham and Hubbard. Band Night schedule Tuesday — Champion, 7:30 p.m. Wednesday ...