News

Child rapist dies in prison

Local News September 26, 2026

WARREN — A Niles man serving a 14- to 55-year prison sentence for his actions against victims as young as 5 has died in prison. According to a news release from the Trumbull County Prosecutor’s Office, JoEllen Smith, chief of communications for the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, confirmed that Paul Czoka, 78, died at 3:17 p.m. Tuesday at the Franklin Medical Center. His cause of death was not disclosed. Czoka, who had been incarcerated at Pickaway Correctional Institution 16 miles southwest of Columbus, had his parole request denied Feb. 11 on a 5-to-3 vote, ...

Warren updates ward map

WRTA gets $1.76M grant for Belmont Avenue bus route work

Local News September 26, 2026

YOUNGSTOWN — The Western Reserve Transit Authority is receiving a $1.76 million grant to make improvements along its Belmont Avenue bus route, which runs from the downtown Federal Station to the Churchill Giant Eagle in Liberty. The funding is coming from the Ohio Department of Transportation’s Ohio Workforce Partnership Program, which uses federal dollars to support public workforce transportation projects. As a condition of the grant, WRTA is providing $440,000 — a 20% match — for the work, which brings the project’s total to $2.2 million. ODOT announced $13.5 million ...

Technology advances learning at TCTC

Local News September 26, 2026

CHAMPION — Trumbull County Career and Technical Center leaders noted that the school’s recognition as an Apple Distinguished School wasn’t about the brand of technology being used, but students’ ability to utilize it in ways that broaden their horizons and opportunities. TCTC officials announced recently that it has been recognized as an Apple Distinguished School for the 2026-29 program term. It is the school’s fourth time being recognized as such a school, according to Innovative Learning Specialist Brian Foutty. Foutty said about 2,300 schools in the country are ...

Healthy Hearts and Paws prepares to open additional space at shelter

Local News September 26, 2026

WARREN — Volunteers with the Healthy Hearts and Paws Project have spent the summer painting, cleaning and doing other work for the nearly completed 4,200-square-foot addition to its building that will allow for more animals to be sheltered. Jason Cooke, founder of Healthy Hearts and Paws, said the addition will open to the public Oct. 10. The addition will house more than 30 dogs and includes a main kennel area to accommodate more dogs and give them more space. Cooke said the addition also includes combination indoor/outdoor kennels so the dogs can exit to outdoor play areas. ...

Steering Clear license restoration event set Oct. 3

Local News September 26, 2026

WARREN — Warren Municipal Court Judge Natasha Natale is sponsoring a program called Steering Clear Warren at 9 a.m. Oct. 3 at First Presbyterian Church, 256 Mahoning Avenue NW in Warren, to educate and assist people overcome driver’s-license suspensions and other barriers. The free “suspended-license intervention workshop” is one of a series of such events Natale has sponsored in recent years. The event is limited to the first 50 participants. Natale said last week that she has spoken with judges in the area about using the workshop as a way to help people get their suspended ...