Breaking News

News

Americans’ confidence in US economy falls

Business

WASHINGTON (AP) — Americans’ confidence in the economy fell this month as gas prices resumed their climb after the U.S. and Iran stepped up their fighting. The Conference Board said Tuesday that its consumer confidence index fell to 90.8 in July from 92.2 in June. That’s essentially the same tepid range its been in since the beginning of the year. In late 2024 and early 2025 the readings were well above 100. Consumer attitudes had improved modestly in June as gas prices came down to around $3.70 a gallon from more than $4.50 a gallon in late April and early May. But as fighting ...

Columbus man accused of damaging Liberty cruiser

Local News

LIBERTY — A Columbus man is facing charges after an active warrant arrest during a gas station theft call escalated en route to jail. Joseph Mullins, 23, pleaded not guilty to charges of aggravated menacing, theft and resisting arrest in front of Girard Municipal Court Judge Jeffery Adler Tuesday morning. He also appeared on a charge of vandalism. According to a police report, Liberty police were called to the Belmont Avenue Speedway Monday afternoon for a theft, with dispatchers noting two men stole items from the business and one of the men, Mullins, had committed a theft from ...

Senate confirms Jay Clayton as nation’s intelligence director

National News

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate has confirmed Jay Clayton to become head of the nation’s intelligence agencies, putting a permanent director in place weeks after President Donald Trump sought to delay his nomination. Clayton, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York and a former Securities and Exchange Commission chairman, was confirmed 51-47 along party lines. Republicans had initially hoped to confirm Clayton in June, but Trump delayed his hearing in order to allow his temporary pick for the job, Bill Pulte, to take over for several weeks after former director Tulsi ...

Federal judge rejects Latell’s amended lawsuit

Local News

Ruling it was filed too late, a federal judge didn’t permit the attorney for Tod Latell, the former Trumbull County recorder, to amend his lawsuit against Trumbull County’s current recorder, Dawn Zinni-Hanni, and her husband, 7th District Court of Appeals Judge Mark A. Hanni. George Farneth, Latell’s attorney, filed an amended complaint on July 10. The lawsuit was initially filed April 22 by Farneth, on behalf of Latell, a Democrat, against the county, Zinni-Hanni and Hanni, both Republicans, alleging civil conspiracy, defamation and abuse of political authority or ...

YSU receives $2 million to support graduate students in behavioral health programs

Local News

Youngstown State University has received a nearly $2 million award from the Ohio Department of Behavioral Health to support graduate students in YSU’s counseling and social work programs preparing for careers in Ohio’s behavioral health workforce. The $1,995,000 Behavioral Health Scholarship award will be divided evenly between the two programs. For eligible Ohio-resident students, it will primarily cover tuition and general fees during the fall and spring semesters. In return, scholarship recipients will commit to working in an Ohio behavioral work setting after graduation for a ...

7.1 magnitude quake hits Japan’s southern Kyushu island

International News

TOKYO (AP) — A 7.1 magnitude earthquake shook Japan’s southern main island of Kyushu on Tuesday, leaving dozens of people injured or missing after part of a shopping center and a huge chimney at a paper factory collapsed, officials said. A tsunami advisory was issued but quickly lifted. There were fears that at least two people were dead. In Kashima Town, the quake collapsed the second floor of the Aeon Mall shopping center, trapping an unknown number of people there, according to the fire department in the prefectural capital of Kumamoto. Japan’s NHK national television said ...