Amani Abraham is the morning web editor and also tracks morning drive traffic for 1590 WAKR, 97.5 WONE and 94.9 WQMX during weekday mornings and is a reporter/anchor. She's no stranger to AkronNewsNow.com, having worked as an intern with Rubber City Radio Group as a producer for the Daily Vodcast and other video projects.. Amani is a 2011 graduate with a Communications degree from the University of Akron, where she excelled in her work on the student radio station WZIP-FM and Z-TV, the University's television program. You can reach Amani through the newsroom 330-864-6397 or by email aabraham@rcrg.net
An 18-year-old man was arrested after authorities said he was involved in a string of paintball shootings in Green.
The Summit County Sheriff's Office reports Kenneth Simmons, 18, of Green, was identified as the suspect who shot at several businesses on Arlington Road with a paintball gun in February.
Authorities said he also shot at Green High School and several homes and vehicles with a paintball gun on Tuesday.
One of the vehicles was shot with a .22 caliber rifle.
Simmons is now facing a list of charges including criminal damaging, criminal mischief, criminal trespass and improper handling of a firearm in a motor vehicle.
He was booked into the Summit County Jail.
Drivers will start to notice a few more orange barrels on the roadways as the construction season kicks off.
The Ohio Department of Transportation announced Tuesday that construction crews will be working on over 90 projects in District 4 worth a total of $341 million across six counties including Ashtabula, Mahoning, Portage, Stark, Summit and Trumball counties.
Brent Kovacs, spokesman for ODOT District 4, said drivers should be prepared for the closure of I-277 eastbound for about 28 days between the Kenmore Leg and I-77 later this month.
“The main reason we are doing this is to expedite construction and give the contractor full access to the roadway, so they can get the work done in the 28 day period,” said Kovacs.
ODOT plans to close the westbound lane of I-277 in June.
Construction projects for 2012 include:
ODOT is also focusing on the importance of communicating with businesses along heavy construction sites to create “Business Friendly Construction.”
District 4 Deputy Director Anthony Urankar said ODOT has found a way to keep Ohio's economy moving forward during heavy construction periods.
“The businesses are important, but the key is for us to let them know what we are doing beforehand so they can make adjustments,” said Urankar.
ODOT partnered with the city of Green to keep communication alive during the heavy construction project along Arlington Road.
“Every business was guaranteed that their entrance would remain open. Every business was guaranteed that there would be lots of signage alerting the public that they were open,” said Green Mayor Dick Norton.
Norton said businesses and residents are able to track every step of the construction process with online updates on the city’s website.
ODOT plans to partner with more cities in the future to ensure that businesses are not severely impacted by large construction projects.
Click here to find the list of projects ODOT has planned.
A drama instructor at Green Middle School was arrested after authorities say he was found inside a car with a partially clothed 14-year old girl.
The Summit County Sheriff's Office reports a deputy found Jason Mazan, 27, of Canton, inside a parked car behind a business on Massillon Road around 1:30 a.m. on Saturday.
Inspector Bill Holland said Mazan is an assistant drama coach at Green Middle School.
He was arrested for importuning, a 5th degree felony, and booked into the Summit County Jail.
Mazan has since been released after posting 10 percent of his $50,000 bond.
A driver was injured after his car crashed into two utility poles in New Franklin early Tuesday morning.
News Channel 5 reports the car ripped in half after it struck the poles near Manchester Road and West Nimisila Road around 2:30 a.m.
New Franklin firefighters said the driver was wearing a seat belt and was taken to a local hospital for treatment.
One utility pole was reported broken.
Authorities closed Manchester Road between West Nimisila and Pearlman Roads as crews assessed the damages.
On the Web: www.newsnet5.com
If you haven't heard of Hatch Show Print, chance are you've seen a poster made with the iconic letterpress design.
Jim Sherraden, chief designer of Hatch Show Print in Nashville, Tennessee, is presenting his work and "131 years of Letterpress History" to an audience Wednesday afternoon at Musica in downtown Akron.
Sherraden says hatch print is gaining some attention from the younger generation.
"It was taught in technical schools up until the '70s and it's enjoying a tremendous revival because of kids being interested in what I would call 'outmoded technology,'" said Sherraden.
Hatch is one of the oldest working letterpress print shops in America and is a division of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.
"We don't take it for granted," said Sherraden. "We are grateful to be in the entertainment industry and provide a product that you can't get on a computer."
Hatch Show Print customers include B.B. King, Neil Young, Coldplay and Alan Jackson. Companies who have used Hatch designs include The New York Times, Nike and Golf Digest.
Sherraden's presentation will begin with the very first poster printed at Hatch along with more than a hundred years of hand-set graphic designs.
Click here to watch how a poster at Hatch is made.
Police are looking for a suspect who allegedly carjacked and kidnapped a woman at gunpoint in Massillon early Tuesday morning.
Massillon police say it happened near the intersection of Wales Road and Hankins Road around 3 a.m.
Officers found the woman at a Speedway gas station on Genoa Road after police say the suspect dropped her off in Perry Township.
Police say the suspect is considered armed and dangerous.
A natural gas explosion destroyed an Akron home Saturday night.
Akron firefighters responded to a house fire in the 500 block of Anderson Avenue around 8 p.m.
Captain Al Bragg said fire crews found the home fully engulfed in flames with evidence that the fire started from an explosion.
A natural gas leak above a basement dryer caused the fire, according to the Akron Fire Department.
"It found an ignition source in the kitchen that led to the explosion," said Bragg.
No one was injured in the fire. Officials determined the house was a total loss valued at $60,000.
Hard Rock is jumping into a new venture that would bring the company to Summit County.
Hard Rock International announced Thursday that it will partner with Northfield Park to create a gambling facility at the harness racing track
The $275 million project will continue as long as Ohio wins an ongoing lawsuit that opposes racetrack slot machines.
The potential gambling facility would include a music venue, steakhouse and Hard Rock Cafe.
The project is expected to bring about 1,000 jobs to Summit County.
On the Web: www.hardrock.com
After a string of violent crimes in Akron and across the nation, community leaders are taking action by encouraging residents to use their voting rights.
Pastor Gregory B. Harrison at Antioch Baptist Church in Akron said in order to make a change, the community needs to send a message to elected officials.
"We as a community must take responsibility and initiate direct positive actions and become proactive in finding solutions," said Harrison .
He hopes to register 10,000 new voters in order to create a voice for the problems facing young people today including racial profiling and senseless murders.
Racial profiling has been a hot topic among many after an incident in February involving the slain Florida teenager Trayvon Martin.
Harrison, a former police officer for 14 years, said he knows first hand that racial profiling is a problem.
"That is not something that I can be told doesn't exist because I engaged in the practice."
He hopes by registering more voters, he can get the community involved in electing officials who support programs and resources that work to end violence and racial profiling.
"Elected officials alone cannot stop the systematic racial profiling of our black males, but they can introduce, sponsor and pass legislation that requires better training of any group or organization empowered to protect our communities," said Harrison.
Harrison has set a goal of registering 10,000 new voters with the help of local community organizations and leaders.
The Alliance Police Department is looking for a man who allegedly stole a television from a Walmart.
Police say the suspect who attempted to walk out of the store with two TVs around 10 p.m. Saturday.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Alliance Police Department or leave a tip at www.alliancepolice.com/tip-form.
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