News

Average 30-year mortgage rate climbs to highest level in 13 months

National News September 5, 2026

Mortgage rates rose again this week, driving the average long-term U.S. home loan rate to its highest level in more than a year. The benchmark 30-year fixed rate mortgage rate rose 6.71% from 6.66% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. One year ago, the average rate was 6.50%. Higher mortgage rates can add hundreds of dollars a month in costs for borrowers, limiting homebuyers’ purchasing power. As rates rise, that can lead prospective home shoppers to delay buying a home, one reason U.S. home sales remain in a rut this year. The average rate is now the highest ...

Rescued kitten inspires bobblehead

Local News September 5, 2026

The National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum has unveiled the first bobblehead of Sue, the tiny orange kitten who went viral recently after being rescued from an excavator in Leavittsburg by workers from RiverReach Construction in Barberton. The limited-edition Sue the Kitten bobblehead is being produced by the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum in Milwaukee and the museum will donate 10% of the sales from the bobbleheads to One of a Kind Pet Rescue in Akron. Positioned on a yellow base bearing her name, the Sue the Kitten bobblehead is a replica of the tiny orange ...

Howland Library to close during expansion project

Local News September 5, 2026

HOWLAND — The Howland branch of the Warren-Trumbull County Public Library, 9095 E. Market St., will be closed to the public beginning Tuesday to accommodate construction during the library’s expansion and renovation project. Work began in July on the project that will add 1,400 square feet onto the library building, renovate the interior and make critical infrastructure updates. The library is expected to reopen in spring 2027. The Warren-Trumbull County Public Library will continue to serve the Howland community during the library closure by adding two weekly local bookmobile ...

Youngstown man accused of hitting woman’s car

Local News September 5, 2026

LIBERTY — Liberty police issued a warrant through Girard Municipal Court for Adham Aburahma, 31, of Youngstown, on a charge of felonious assault Friday morning. According to a police report, an officer was called to the parking lot of a Trumbull Avenue bar for an incident in the Aldi parking lot. The officer spoke with the caller, who said she went into the store to report an illegally parked car to an employee, noting that it was parked near the store’s Goldie Road exit and it could have caused an accident. The woman said she confronted Aburahma about the vehicle, but he became ...

YSU hosting public speaker series tied to history

Local News September 5, 2026

Youngstown State University’s History 4820 course, “History in the Headlines,” will host a public speaker series this fall examining major issues in the news and their effects on people in the Mahoning Valley. The programs will be at 6 p.m. at the Youngstown Historical Center of Industry and Labor, 151 W. Wood St. The series is designed to make history accessible and relevant while encouraging community conversation about contemporary issues. The 2026 schedule includes: • Sept 15: “How have political party divisions in the U.S. become so vast, and can they be healed?” ...

A hierarchy for retirement savings

Business September 5, 2026

If you have a fixed sum of money to invest every month or every year, which investment account type gives you the biggest bang for your buck? There are no one-size-fits-all answers, but this framework for retirement savings is a good starting point. 1: Invest enough in a 401(k)/other ...